Police claimed that Brian Grant shot Randy Stewart outside Grant’s vacation home in the 300 block of NE 49th Street.
Brian Reed Gran, 41, is a former right-handed starting pitcher born on August 16, 1984, in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
A standout at Charles B. Aycock High School in Pikeville, North Carolina, he was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 7th round of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Standing 6’4″ and weighing 207 pounds, Brian entered professional baseball at 17 and spent four seasons (2002-2005) in the Blue Jays’ minor league system, playing at the Rookie and Class A Short Season (A-) levels.
His professional debut came with the Medician Hat Blue Jays in the Pioneer League, where he started 10 games and finished the 2002 season with a 1-6 record and a 4.59 ERA across 51 innings pitched.
In 2003, he moved to the Pulaski Blue Jays of the Appalachian League, starting all 13 games and posting a 2-5 record with a 4.80 ERA while improving his strikeout count to 40 in 54.1 innings.
His successful season came in 2004, when he split time between Pulaski and the Auburn Doubledays, recording a 3-2 record with an impressive 3.02 ERA over 53.2 innings.
In 2005, he returned to Auburn and struggled with control, posting a 13.50 ERA in just 10.2 innings over five appearances.
Randy Stewart Was Shot By A Former MLB Pitcher, Brian Reed Grant
Former MLB pitcher Brian Reed Grant has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Brunswick County business owner, Randy Stewart.
As per a news release from the Oak Island Police Department, Randy was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
On Thursday, July 24, 2025, a judge ruled that Brian would be held at the Brunswick County jail without bond until his next court appearance on Monday, August 11, 2025.
Randy Stewart, 61, was found deceased in an Oak Island home on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Reports claimed that the shooting occurred during a service call to the house by Stewart’s locksmith business.
Officers were dispatched at 6:18 p.m. and pronounced Stewart dead at the scene.
The District Attorney’s representative stated that the home, located in the 300 block of NE 49th Street, was Brian’s second residence.
The representative also said that it appeared that the defendant had been staying in the home for a couple of days. Grant’s defending attorney disputed the claim, stating that he had just arrived.
Grant’s Oak Island residence had a keypad lock, and the home was secure upon the arrival of law enforcement. Stewart arrived at the house with his wife and two dogs in his work van, intending to go fishing after completing the job.
Neighbors called 911 to report two rounds of gunshots, and one neighbor reported that the defendant had fled the scene.
The representative said Grant told law enforcement that Stewart was threatening him with a knife and mentioned a Navy SEAL inside the home.
Grant’s defense representative stated that the information was incorrect and that Grant had cooperated with law enforcement throughout the incident and was never questioned before being detained.
The incident was isolated, and there is no present danger to the public. Police also decried false reports of “multiple gunshot victims” at the scene.
The misinformation had been shared on social media outlets but was never published by the department.
According to the release, the Oak Island Police Department will not be making further updates on the case.
The maximum punishment for Brian’s second-degree murder charge is life in prison with no possibility of parole.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Randy Stewart is the owner of the Stewart Enterprises Locksmith Service.
- Across Brian’s four-year minor league career, he compiled a 6-14 win-loss record with a 4.72 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and 60 walks over 169.2 innings.
