Reginald Lawrence, a 46-year-old man from New York, was tragically shot and killed on November 29, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. Lawrence was visiting Charlotte for Thanksgiving and was outside an apartment complex on Pebblestone Drive when the incident occurred. Carlton Benbow, a 32-year-old resident of the apartment complex, approached Lawrence and an argument ensued. During the altercation, Benbow shot Lawrence, killing him, and also fired at Lawrence's child but missed.
Law enforcement responded to the scene and arrested Benbow the following day. He was charged with first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Benbow claimed he acted in self-defense, but the evidence presented at trial led to a different conclusion.
After a three-week trial, the jury found Benbow guilty of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 67-93 months in prison. The jury, however, found him not guilty of first-degree murder.
The case highlighted issues of gun violence and the complexities of self-defense claims in violent encounters. Lawrence's death was one of several incidents that week in Charlotte, underscoring the broader challenges the city faces with crime and violence.
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