On a tragic day in Phoenix, Arizona, the life of a 23-year-old Black/African American man, Martin Louis, was cut short. On November 8, 2021, inside an apartment complex in the northern part of the city, a violent encounter unfolded that would leave two people dead and a family shattered. Martin was with 28-year-old Trystan Benallie when her ex-boyfriend, Steven Love-Mason, forced his way into the residence.
The events leading up to the fatal shooting revealed a history of domestic
turmoil. Trystan Benallie, a mother of five, had sought and obtained an order of protection against Love-Mason. However, he violated this order shortly after it was served. Despite the violation, he was released from custody just ten days before the deadly incident. On that fateful day, Love-Mason reportedly had a neighbor knock on the apartment door. When the door was opened, he stormed in and opened fire, killing both Martin Louis and Trystan Benallie. A two-year-old child present in the apartment at the time was physically unharmed.
After the shooting, Steven Love-Mason fled the scene. Law enforcement was able to track him down in Tempe after he was seen on surveillance footage using the light rail to go to his mother's apartment. Upon his arrest, he faced serious charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, burglary, and aggravated domestic violence. Investigators at the scene recovered 13 shell casings, painting a grim picture of the violence that had occurred. Love-Mason, who had a significant criminal history with prior felony convictions, was held on a two-million-dollar bond. In the wake of this tragedy, Martin Louis was remembered by his family for his love of making music and his ability to make people laugh.
