Richard Bennaugh: Maryland man faces manslaughter charges after shooting roommate dead over remote control dispute
SPRINGDALE, MARYLAND: Police reported the arrest of a Maryland man who allegedly shot and killed his roommate during a dispute over a remote control.
Richard Bennaugh, a 38-year-old resident of Springdale, is facing manslaughter charges in connection with the death of 27-year-old Domonique Scott Hayes.
The incident occurred last week, and officers from Prince George’s County Police responded to the scene around 12:30 pm on Thursday, as reported by Fox news.
What did Richard Bennaugh report to the police?
According to the charging documents, Bennaugh dialed 911 slightly after 12:30 pm on Wednesday, informing operators that he had shot his roommate following an altercation between 5:30 am and 6 am that day.
In his call, he conveyed that his roommate had approached him with knives, prompting him to use a firearm, as outlined in the charging documents.
What transpired between Domonique Hayes and Richard Bennaugh?
The documents provide a detailed timeline of the events leading up to the gunfire.
Bennaugh explained that he went to the second floor to sleep on the living room sofa around 2 am and awoke just after 5:30 am to the noise of Scott Hayes in the kitchen as per Fox5DC.
A few minutes later, Scott Hayes allegedly shouted and inquired about the location of the remote. Bennaugh claimed he ignored him, but Scott Hayes persisted, walking behind the living room sofa and repeatedly asking about the remote.
Bennaugh recounted that he removed the blanket from his head, discovering Scott Hayes holding two large knives.
In response, he grabbed a handgun and aimed it at his roommate. Although Scott Hayes initially backed up, he later stated that he wouldn't shoot Bennaugh, according to the charging documents.
Allegedly replying, "There's only one way to find out," Bennaugh continued pointing the handgun at him.
When Scott Hayes approached, Bennaugh claimed that it was when he started shooting. Scott Hayes reportedly fled to his room on the third floor, as per the suspect’s statement to the police.
Bennaugh mentioned seeing bullet holes in the walls but observed no blood, leading him to believe he had not actually shot his roommate, so he went back to sleep.
A few hours later, he said he drove to a friend’s home in Lanham to discuss the incident, then visited a marijuana dispensary to buy around $50 worth of marijuana before returning home to smoke.
The charging documents state that Bennaugh disposed of the fired cartridge casings by flushing them down the toilet and cleaned the dust from the damaged walls.
