On the morning of May 11, 2021, 18-year-old Brittney J. “Brit” Peyton was found deceased in a Henrico, Virginia, apartment. Henrico Police responded to an emergency call at the Abbington West Apartments on Beth Road at approximately 7:42 a.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered the young woman on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound.
The investigation into the Hanover County native's death swiftly led to a suspect. Later that same day, authorities located and arrested 18-year-old Benjamin A. Newton, who was identified as Peyton's boyfriend. He was taken into custody at a Walmart not far from the scene of the shooting. Newton was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter and shooting within an occupied dwelling.
Further details that emerged during the investigation painted a grim picture of the couple's relationship. Family members reported that the relationship had been tumultuous and that Peyton had confided in them about instances of physical abuse. During the course of the legal proceedings, Newton’s account of the events changed. Initially, he denied any involvement, but prosecutors reported that he was later heard in a jail call admitting to shooting Peyton accidentally while cleaning his gun. Ultimately, Newton accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and drug possession. In August 2022, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. Peyton's family expressed their profound grief and dissatisfaction with the sentence, feeling it was not sufficient for the loss of her life.
