In the late summer of 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the life of 42-year-old Quintin Benson was tragically cut short. On September 16, 2019, what began as a gathering among neighbors ended in violence, leaving a community in shock and a family to mourn an unexpected loss. Benson was fatally shot in an encounter that authorities would later suggest was rooted in a decades-old grudge.
The events of that fateful day unfolded after a party where Kennetha Lee Anderson, Benson's neighbor, was
reportedly seen staring intently at him. Following the gathering, witnesses observed Anderson pacing on his porch. He then approached Benson from behind. While no one directly witnessed the shot being fired, a loud "pop" was heard, and Benson collapsed. He was transported to DCH Regional Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The investigation that followed pointed to a possible motive stretching back 20 years, with investigators learning that Benson may have robbed Anderson two decades prior, and the shooting was an act of revenge.
Following an investigation by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, Kennetha Lee Anderson was arrested and charged with the murder of Quintin Benson. The case proceeded through the criminal justice system, and the office of Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb prosecuted Anderson. In a trial that brought the details of that September day to light, a jury found Anderson guilty of murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for the crime.
Anderson later sought to have his conviction overturned through an appeal. However, the court affirmed the jury's verdict in a decision on December 9, 2022. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's office announced the victory in the appeals process, with Assistant Attorney General John E. Owen leading the state's case. Marshall commended the work of the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's office in securing the original conviction, stating that the justice system does not permit individuals to take the law into their own hands. This affirmation solidified the life sentence for Anderson, ensuring he would remain in prison for the murder of Quintin Benson.
