Asheville Man Sentenced for 2020 Murder

An Asheville man will serve at least 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, Attorney General Jeff Jackson said this week.

Sherwayne Akeem Bascom, 34, entered his plea on Oct. 31 in connection with the 2020 shooting death of Adrian Terrell Smith. The case is one of several delayed homicide prosecutions in Buncombe County that were later transferred to the North Carolina Department of Justice amid staffing shortages and pandemic-era backlogs.

“This sentence was serious and reflects the grave nature of the offense,” Attorney General Jackson said. “Investigating and prosecuting this case was a team effort by law enforcement. My office will continue working with our partners to keep people safe across North Carolina.”

Bascom pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to serve between 19 and 24 years in prison.

Public records show he has previous felony convictions in North Carolina, and the NC Judicial Branch eCourts portal shows 19 separate cases, as of Nov. 6.

The Case and Its Long Road to Resolution

April 3, 2020 — The Shooting

Asheville Police responded to reports of gunfire at Pisgah View Apartments around 11:20 p.m. Officers found two men with gunshot wounds. Adrien Terrel Smith, 33, of Asheville, died at the scene, while a second victim was rushed to Mission Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

April 13–14, 2020 — Suspects Identified and Arrested

Authorities sought information on two suspects: Sherwayne Akeem Bascom and Dajour Johahaun McDay. The next day, McDay turned himself in and was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and firearm possession by a felon.

June 11, 2020 — Fugitive Arrested in Connecticut

Bascom was captured in Waterbury, Connecticut, during a joint operation by the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (CRFTF) and the Waterbury Police Department. He was extradited to North Carolina to face charges.

2021–2022 — Justice System Backlog Grows

Pandemic-related trial delays and turnover in the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office caused homicide cases to pile up. By late 2022, District Attorney Todd Williams reported that three of his five senior prosecutors with murder trial experience had resigned, leaving 40 murder defendants awaiting trial.

October 2022 — State DOJ Steps In

Then–Attorney General Josh Stein’s Special Prosecutions Section assumed several homicide cases, including Bascom’s, to help clear the backlog. The section handles complex prosecutions when local offices face conflicts or resource shortages.

October 31, 2025 — Guilty Plea Entered

Bascom pleaded guilty in Buncombe County Superior Court to four felony charges, including second-degree murder.

November 4, 2025 — Sentence Announced

Attorney General Jeff Jackson confirmed Bascom’s prison term of 19–24 years in a statement praising the collaboration between Asheville Police, U.S. Marshals, and state prosecutors.

Strain on the Justice System

The case shows the ongoing strain on local prosecutors as they work through years of delayed homicide trials. According to the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, the median time to resolve a first-degree murder case statewide during fiscal year 2021–22 was 778 days — more than two years — with Buncombe County’s backlog growing faster than most.

State Sen. Julie Mayfield has pushed for increased funding and staffing, noting that Buncombe County hasn’t received a new assistant district attorney position since 2008, despite population growth and a rise in violent crime.

For the family and friends of Smith, the sentencing brings long-awaited closure. For North Carolina’s justice system it reflects both progress and a reminder of the challenges that remain in delivering timely justice after years of disruption.