John Allen Garisto, a 55-year-old male from Kure Beach, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on May 17, 2022. John was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at his residence on Ocean View Avenue. The incident was a rare and shocking murder-suicide that shook the small seaside town of fewer than 3,000 residents. The perpetrator, 61-year-old William Bennett, admitted to shooting and killing John before turning the gun on himself.
The events leading up to the tragic incident began
earlier that day when Bennett saw John feeding wild animals near his property. This led to an argument between the two neighbors, and Bennett called animal control. Later, Bennett left to go to a convenience store for beer. Upon his return, he claimed that John began using expletive words and gestures towards him. Bennett, who was legally drunk with a blood alcohol content of 0.20, then shot John five times using an assault rifle.
Bennett called 911 at 2:48 p.m. and confessed to the shooting, stating, "Yeah, I just killed my neighbor." He expressed his frustration with John and mentioned that he had "had enough" of him. Bennett also indicated that he did not want to go to prison and was unsure if he would be taken alive. As officers approached his house, Bennett stopped responding to the dispatcher. Shortly after, a single gunshot was heard from inside Bennett's residence, and he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The murder-suicide left the community in shock and mourning. John Garisto was remembered as a beloved member of the Kure Beach community, known for his love of the ocean and his dedication to teaching scuba diving. He is survived by his wife Annette, his mother Maria, his children Vanessa and Daniel, and his grandchildren Joe and Michael.
