Brandon Branton

A Jacksonville man on Wednesday was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a man near Love’s Lookout in 2020.

Brandon Branton, 25, was sentenced to life without parole for the 2020 murder of Randy Davenport.

Branton and Ja’Michael Rusk were charged in August 2020 in the death of Davenport, a 25-year-old from Jacksonville who was found dead on the side of County Road 3906 at the intersection of CR 3901 at about 7 a.m. July 31, 2020.

According to Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Branton and Rusk were giving Davenport a ride when they stopped their vehicle at the corner of CR 3109 and CR 3106, according to previous reporting from the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Officials believe the pair killed Davenport when stopping the vehicle. Although Branton was found guilty, Rusk’s case is still pending and awaiting trial.