Demaurea Grant’s long history of crime took a deadly turn this weekend.

The 29-year-old from North Carolina is charged with killing Atlantic Beach corrections officer Brad McNew at a gas station early Saturday morning. Reports say Grant was a suspect in a 2016 murder and once tried to stab a corrections officer in 2021.

Deadly Confrontation at a Gas Station

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said McNew, a respected father and community member, saw Grant attacking a woman at the Duval Road gas station. When he tried to stop the assault, Grant allegedly shot him and sped away.

Police arrested Grant on Sunday at a home in Gastonia, North Carolina. He will be sent back to Jacksonville to face charges.

Previous Criminal History

Grant was named as the main suspect in the 2016 murder of Jarellia Montgomery, 38. Reports say Montgomery was accused of being in a rival gang. He tried to escape on his motorcycle but was chased down and shot. However, prosecutors did not file charges due to lack of evidence.

In 2018, Grant was in jail for a crime when he attempted to stab a corrections officer in Rowan County, Massachusetts, with a homemade knife. A jury found him guilty in 2021, but he disappeared before sentencing.

More Violent Incidents

In 2020, Grant was arrested for punching two corrections officers in the face while already in custody.

He also has previous convictions for felony kidnapping and assault by strangulation. In 2019, Monroe County deputies arrested him on gun and drug charges, finding an illegal gun and an ounce of methamphetamine.

Legal Troubles

In 2018, Grant was part of a civil lawsuit against the North Carolina Department of Corrections over prison conditions. The case was dismissed.

Grant’s long criminal record shows a pattern of violence and lawbreaking, leading up to this latest tragic incident.