In the late hours of a summer night in Opelika, Alabama, a 21-year-old male named Octavious Bennett was inside a home in the Hickory Haven Trailer Park, engrossed in a video game with friends. The ordinary evening of July 31, 2018, was shattered at approximately 11:40 p.m. by the sound of gunfire from outside the residence. In a tragic turn of events, a stray bullet pierced through the wall of the mobile home, striking Bennett.
Responding to a call about an assault with injuries,
officers from the Opelika Police Department arrived to find a devastating scene. Bennett had sustained a fatal gunshot wound and succumbed to his injury inside the residence. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots just before the fatal bullet found its way into the living room where Bennett and his friends were gathered. The randomness of the violence left a community in shock and a family grappling with a sudden and senseless loss.
The investigation into the death of Octavious Bennett was immediately launched, with authorities treating it as a homicide. Despite their efforts and pleas to the public for information, the case grew cold. As of early 2026, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the shooting. The Opelika Police Department continues to classify the case as an active cold case, holding out hope that new leads will emerge. A reward has been offered by Central Alabama Crime Stoppers for any information that could lead to an arrest and finally bring a measure of justice for Octavious Bennett.
