In February 2022, the quiet of a Detroit neighborhood was shattered by the discovery of a tragic scene that claimed the life of 32-year-old Aaron Benson. His death was part of a horrific triple homicide that also took the lives of his girlfriend, 28-year-old LaShon Marshall, and her young son, 5-year-old Caleb Harris. The victims were found inside Benson's home on Evergreen Road after a concerned cousin went to check on him, having not heard from him for several days.
Upon entering the
residence, the cousin was confronted with a grim reality. The bodies of Benson and Marshall were located in one room, while the body of young Caleb was found in a separate bedroom. It was later determined by the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office that all three had died from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators at the scene noted that the back door of the home appeared to have been kicked in, suggesting a violent entry. The community was left reeling from the brutality of the crime, with family members expressing their profound grief and disbelief, particularly over the senseless killing of a child.
The investigation into the heinous crime led Detroit police to two teenage suspects. One of the individuals, Malcolm Ray Hardy, who was 16 at the time of the offense, was ultimately charged as an adult with three counts of felony murder, three counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and gun charges. The charges against the second teen were later dismissed due to insufficient evidence. The motive, as suggested in court proceedings, may have stemmed from a dispute during a marijuana transaction between Hardy and Benson. It is believed that an altercation escalated, leading to Hardy allegedly taking Benson's firearm and shooting all three victims. The prosecution argued that Caleb was killed to eliminate any potential witnesses to the initial murders.
After his arrest, Malcolm Ray Hardy pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder. In June 2024, at the age of 18, he was sentenced for his role in the deaths of Aaron Benson, LaShon Marshall, and Caleb Harris. He received a prison sentence of 28 to 60 years for each of the three murder charges, to be served concurrently, in addition to a two-year sentence for a felony firearm conviction. During the sentencing, Hardy offered an apology to the families of the victims, expressing remorse for his actions. He will be eligible for parole after serving nearly three decades in prison.
