In the quiet hours of a Sunday evening in Augusta, Georgia, a domestic dispute shattered the peace of a home on Lucie Street, leaving a family torn apart and a man's life tragically cut short. John Bennett, a 60-year-old man, was shot and killed on December 7, 2025, in an incident that authorities have described as a devastating instance of familial violence.
Deputies from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 3400 block of Lucie Street around 6:45 p.m.
following a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr. Bennett with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Coroner's Office, the sudden violence of his death leaving an indelible mark on the neighborhood.
The investigation into the shooting quickly focused on a member of Bennett's own family. His stepson, 40-year-old Kenneth Murray Jr., was identified as the suspect. A search for Murray ensued, and he was located and taken into custody by members of the Road Patrol Division later that same evening, at 9:56 p.m., in the 2200 block of Rosier Road. Authorities have stated that the shooting stemmed from a domestic situation, highlighting the tragic escalation of a conflict within the home. Sheriff Eugene Brantley remarked on the case, expressing that such incidents are a stark reminder of how quickly conflicts can escalate when anger and frustration are left unresolved.
Murray has been charged with murder in connection with his stepfather's death. This was not his first encounter with law enforcement; records show a prior conviction for sexual battery in July 2024. An obituary for John Garry Bennett, who passed away on the same day, lists Kenneth Murray Jr. as one of his stepsons, further cementing the familial connection at the heart of this tragedy. Mr. Bennett was remembered by loved ones for his love of eating, swimming, fishing, and spending time with his family, making the violent circumstances of his death all the more poignant.
