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North Texas youth pastor shot, killed after argument near church, police say

The preliminary investigation determined that a male suspect and a male victim were involved in an argument that escalated when the suspect shot the victim.
Credit: The mother of Denzel Branch
31-year-old Denzel Branch was shot and killed on Easter Sunday in Dallas.

DALLAS — A Dallas man has turned himself in on murder charges, according to the Dallas Police Department.

On Sunday around 3:30 p.m., Dallas police responded to a shooting call in the 2500 block of 56th Street. 

The preliminary investigation determined that the suspect 30-year-old Joshua Andrews and a male victim were involved in an argument that escalated when Andrews shot the victim. Andrews left the location, police said. 

The victim, 31-year-old Denzel Branch, was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

According to the arrest affidavit, Andrews told police he had been involved in an intimate relationship since May 2023 with Branch's ex-wife, who divorced Branch around November 2023.

After the Easter Day service, Andrews told police he "overheard Branch making comments about how he was going to beat him up." Branch allegedly punched Andrews in the face, and that's when Andrews reached for his handgun and shot Branch, according to arrest records.

Andrews confessed to police that he followed Branch and continued to shoot, “stopping when he saw (Branch) laying on the middle of the road.”

Later that evening, Andrews turned himself into the Dallas Police Department for this shooting. He was taken to the Dallas County Jail and charged with murder.

Branch was a youth pastor at New Generation Church in Dallas. The Church posted a statement about the shooting on its Facebook page.

"Our hearts are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that took place down the street from our church...we ask for your continued prayers for the families and our church family as we navigate through these difficult times," the post said in part.

A celebration of Life service will be held on April 6 at 1 p.m. at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas.

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