In the summer of 2022, a life was tragically cut short in Rochester, New York. Marcus J. Bennett, a 47-year-old man, was killed by an act of gun violence. The incident that led to his death unfolded during a backyard party on Sixth Street. An argument broke out between Bennett and another man, escalating to a fatal conclusion.
The man, identified as 32-year-old Christopher Williams, pulled out an illegal firearm and shot Marcus Bennett multiple times.
At the time of the homicide, Williams was on parole and had removed his monitoring device. A thorough investigation by the Rochester Police Department led to his arrest at a residence in Irondequoit.
In July 2023, Christopher Williams was sentenced for the murder of Marcus Bennett. He received a sentence of 23 years to life in the New York State Department of Corrections, with an additional 5 years of post-release supervision. The Monroe County District Attorney's Office prosecuted the case, stating that the murder stemmed from a bruised ego during the argument. They credited the Rochester Police Department's Major Crime Unit with conducting the investigation that brought the dangerous offender to justice.
Marcus J. Bennett, known to some as 'Lil'Bit,' was remembered as a giving man with the heart of a lion who was loved by many. He was a father and a grandfather. He had recently been hired for a full-time position at Lidestri Foods with plans to build a career there before his life was taken.
