On a tragic evening in Manchester, Connecticut, Artara Benson, a 46-year-old Black/African American woman, became an innocent victim in a horrifying triple murder-suicide. The events of December 7, 2013, unfolded at the Dye House Apartments on Pine Street, where a domestic dispute escalated into a deadly confrontation, claiming the lives of three women and the perpetrator.
Artara, who was visiting from Vauxhall, New Jersey, had gone to the apartment of her cousin, 28-year-old Brittany Mills, along with their other cousin, 23-year-old Kamesha Mills. Their visit was prompted by concern, as Brittany had been trying to end a troubled relationship with 41-year-old John Lynn, the father of her 13-month-old son. Lynn had a history of domestic disputes with Brittany, including a previous arrest for disorderly conduct at the same apartment.
That Saturday night, what began as a family visit turned into a scene of unimaginable violence. Lynn arrived at the apartment and, at some point, opened fire, shooting all three women. Neighbors reported hearing women yelling followed by multiple gunshots. When police responded to the scene around 9:40 p.m., they found Lynn in the parking lot, armed with a handgun and holding the 13-month-old child.
In a tense standoff with officers, Lynn placed the unharmed child on the ground before turning the gun on himself, ending his own life. Inside the apartment, law enforcement discovered the bodies of Artara Benson, Brittany Mills, and Kamesha Mills. The medical examiner later confirmed that Artara and Kamesha each died from a single gunshot wound to the head, while Brittany had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The case was officially ruled a triple murder-suicide, with John Lynn identified as the sole suspect. In the aftermath, the families of the victims filed a lawsuit against the apartment complex's management, alleging negligence for allowing Lynn to reside there despite his criminal record.
