In the fall of 2020, a life was tragically cut short in Rome, New York. Benjamin J. Davis, a 28-year-old male, was fatally shot on November 15, 2020, at the Red Carpet Inn. The incident unfolded into a case that would see a perpetrator brought to justice for the violent act.
Authorities from the New York State Police responded to the scene to find Davis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was quickly transported to Rome Memorial Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was the multiple gunshot wounds he sustained, and the manner of death was officially ruled a homicide. The investigation into the shooting led police to identify a suspect in the case.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of Wilfredo Cotto Jr., a 41-year-old resident of Rome. Cotto was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. During the legal proceedings, it was revealed that Davis had been shot three times. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that two of the shots were fired from behind as Davis was attempting to flee down a hallway in the motel, suggesting he posed no threat to his attacker at the time of the shooting.
Ultimately, Wilfredo Cotto Jr. pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. For the murder of Benjamin Davis, he was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of 23 years to life. In addition to the murder sentence, Cotto also received two concurrent sentences of 15 years in prison, with five years of post-release supervision, for the weapons charges. At his sentencing, Cotto expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he had not intended to kill Davis and that his memory of the event was unclear. However, the presiding judge dismissed these claims, citing Cotto's detailed recollection of the incident during the pre-sentencing investigation and his past criminal history, which included robbery and burglary. The sentencing was an emotional event for Davis's family, who shared powerful statements about the profound and lasting impact his death has had on their lives.
