On a Saturday evening in Charlottesville, Virginia, the life of 41-year-old Tiewan Levert Benston was tragically cut short. On November 14, 2020, police responded to a report of a single gunshot in the 800 block of Orangedale Avenue. Upon their arrival, they discovered Benston on the ground, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers administered CPR until medical personnel arrived and transported him to the University of Virginia hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
A description of a suspect seen leaving the area was quickly broadcast to other officers. Shortly thereafter, a man matching the description was spotted and taken into custody. The suspect was identified as 44-year-old Bryan Garick Hatcher of Albemarle County. A witness to the incident positively identified Hatcher as the man she saw leaving the scene, noting that he appeared to be visibly intoxicated.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that Hatcher and Benston had been together in a vehicle just before the fatal encounter. According to what Hatcher told detectives, a dispute erupted when he could not find his wallet and accused Benston of stealing it. This argument escalated into a physical altercation, culminating in Hatcher shooting Benston once.
Initially, Bryan Garick Hatcher was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following a preliminary hearing in May 2021, these charges were certified to a grand jury. However, on October 1, 2021, Hatcher pleaded guilty in Charlottesville Circuit Court to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, as well as the firearm charge. His sentencing was scheduled for January 10, 2022, where he faced a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.
