In the winter of 2018, Rodney Bennett, a 32-year-old male, was fatally shot in a tragic encounter that began just outside his Bronx apartment. On the evening of December 28th, Bennett stepped out of his residence on Southern Boulevard in the Foxhurst neighborhood. Moments later, he stumbled back inside, having sustained a gunshot wound to his side, and collapsed. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
The incident was not a random act of violence but a planned robbery with a heartbreaking betrayal at its core.
The subsequent investigation by law enforcement revealed a chilling plot orchestrated by three men. One of the individuals, Tommie Williams, was a childhood friend of Bennett's, a man who knew his family and would later attend his funeral. Williams, along with Dexter Jones and Shawn Marquis, had traveled from Brooklyn to the Bronx with the intention of robbing Bennett. The plan was put into motion when Jones and Marquis, both armed, proceeded to the victim's apartment while Williams acted as the getaway driver.
When Rodney Bennett opened his door, he was shot in the back by Jones. A struggle ensued between the wounded Bennett and Marquis, during which the assailants stole a chain from him before fleeing the scene. The investigation moved swiftly, and by March of the following year, all three perpetrators were in custody. Dexter Jones faced charges of murder, robbery, and weapon possession, while Shawn Marquis and Tommie Williams were both charged with murder.
The legal process culminated in February 2022, bringing a measure of closure to Bennett's grieving family and friends. Dexter Jones pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. Shawn Marquis received a 16-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to first-degree robbery, also with five years of post-release supervision. Tommie Williams, the childhood friend who betrayed his bond with the victim, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with five years of post-release supervision.
