In the heart of an Evansville, Indiana afternoon, on December 28, 2021, the life of Carlis J. Falls, a 43-year-old Black male, was tragically cut short. A former semi-professional football player for the Evansville Vipers and a respected local businessman, Falls was known for his involvement in the community, including coaching youth football. His unexpected death sent ripples of shock and sorrow through the city.
The fatal encounter unfolded in the 900 block of Oregon Street, where
witnesses reported that 30-year-old Fabian Bennett began threatening Falls shortly after he arrived. As Falls attempted to retreat to the safety of his vehicle, Bennett discharged a firearm, inflicting the mortal wound. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Falls succumbed to his injuries approximately half an hour later. The incident marked a grim milestone for Evansville, becoming the city's seventh homicide in a mere 16-day period.
Following the shooting, an immediate manhunt was launched for Fabian Bennett. After obtaining a search warrant for a nearby house where Bennett was believed to be, police were unable to locate him. An arrest warrant for murder was quickly issued, describing Bennett as armed and dangerous. For two days, he remained at large, a fugitive from the law. The apprehension came through the combined efforts of the Evansville Police Department's Viper Unit and U.S. Marshals.
The legal process moved forward, and in August 2022, a jury, after three days of deliberation, found Fabian Bennett guilty of the murder of Carlis Falls. Bennett also admitted to a Firearm Sentencing Enhancement and a Habitual Offender Sentencing Enhancement. The culmination of the case came on August 25, 2022, when Bennett was sentenced to 76 years in prison for the senseless killing that stole a beloved figure from the Evansville community.
