Authorities say a woman became furious when a car behind her at a traffic light honked his horn, so she followed him and shot and killed him.
The fatal road rage incident took place in broad daylight on October 17 in west Indianapolis.
“The shooting occurred at approximately 2 p.m. and is alleged to have occurred after the victim honked at the defendant to alert them that a traffic signal had turned green,” the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office stated. “It’s further alleged the defendant followed the victim while yelling and throwing her hands at them before shooting into his vehicle, striking him in the chest.”
The victim, Kentrell Settles, was brought to Eskenazi Health in severe condition and eventually confirmed dead, according to the Indianapolis Star. According to the publication, the suspect, Deborah Benefiel, allegedly fired a bullet that struck the 21-year-old former basketball player in the lung and then the heart before becoming trapped in his chest.
The county prosecutor’s office announced that Benefiel, 23, has been charged with homicide and criminal recklessness.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears described Settles’ death as “yet another tragic example of a simple dispute on our roadways turning deadly over what amounts to nothing.”
“A moment of anger should not cost someone their life,” Mears continued, calling Settles’ death “senseless violence.”
Settles’ father told Fox 59 that his son was “loved by so many people” as he mourned his unexpected passing this week. “And so many people are going to miss him,” the victim’s father, Kenneth Murff, said. “A precious life was taken for no reason.”
According to Fox 59 and the Indianapolis Star, Benefiel was caught immediately after the incident and identified by Settles’ girlfriend, who was in the car with him at the time of the shooting. The Indy Star said that Benefiel was apprehended at a local gas station after officials allegedly discovered her and her mother attempting to remove identifying labels from the vehicle.
Benefiel’s initial court appearance is planned for Tuesday, October 21.
