Rodney Bennett, 32, was shot and killed after stepping outside his Southern Boulevard apartment in the Foxhurst section of the Bronx on the evening of December 28, 2018. He stumbled back into his home with a gunshot wound to his side, collapsed, and later died at a nearby hospital.

Investigators determined the shooting was part of a planned robbery carried out by three men who traveled from Brooklyn. According to the case account, Dexter Jones and Shawn Marquis entered Bennett’s apartment armed while a childhood friend, Tommie Williams, remained outside as the getaway driver. Jones reportedly shot Bennett in the back when he opened the door; a struggle followed, the men took a chain from Bennett and then fled.

All three were taken into custody. Jones pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and received 19 years plus five years post-release supervision. Marquis pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 16 years plus five years post-release supervision. Williams pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and received 12 years plus five years post-release supervision.