In the late afternoon of March 19, 2017, the city of Vancouver, Washington, was the scene of a grim discovery that would unravel a story of sudden violence. Jason D. Benton, a 42-year-old Black/African American male, was found lifeless in the parking lot of an east Vancouver apartment complex. He was not alone; alongside him was another victim, 37-year-old Allen J. Collins.
Both men had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, a fact later confirmed by the medical examiner as their cause of death.
The events unfolded shortly after 5 p.m. when multiple residents of the apartment complex on Northeast 140th Avenue reported hearing the sound of gunfire. One neighbor who ventured outside saw a man and a woman standing near a silver Toyota Prius. The woman was heard expressing disbelief at what had just transpired. Soon after, the man was seen fleeing the area in the same vehicle, which was later found to belong to his girlfriend, a resident of the complex. Moments later, the bodies of Benton and Collins were discovered lying on the pavement. A witness, who was a nurse's assistant, rushed to provide aid, but one of the men had already succumbed to his injuries, and the other passed away before police arrived.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly pointed towards a single suspect. Ten days after the shooting, a tactical operation led to the arrest of 31-year-old Arkangel Howard at his mother’s home in North Portland. At the time of the murders, there was already an outstanding bench warrant for Howard's arrest in connection with a methamphetamine charge from the previous year. The motive for the shooting remained unclear throughout the investigation and subsequent trial, with the prosecutor noting that only Howard knew the true reason for his actions.
During the trial, it was revealed that Howard had been at his girlfriend's apartment helping her move. His girlfriend told investigators that she had heard an argument in the parking lot just before Howard opened fire on Benton and Collins. A crucial piece of evidence, a. 45 caliber Hi-Point pistol believed to be the murder weapon, was discovered by a resident under a shed at the property where Howard was apprehended. Ultimately, Arkangel Howard was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to more than 63 years in prison, bringing a close to the legal chapter of this tragic event that cut short the lives of two men.
