SPRINGDALE, MD – A Maryland resident, Richard Bennaugh, 38, faces charges of manslaughter after allegedly shooting dead his 26-year-old housemate, Domonique Scott Hayes. The fatal incident that took place on Wednesday in their dwelling in Springdale purportedly arose out of a dispute over a television remote.
Bennaugh dialed 911 around 12:30 p.m. that day, confessing that he had shot his roommate after a heated confrontation that transpired between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Documents revealed that he told the authorities that Scott Hayes attacked him with knives, prompting him to retaliate with gunfire.
In a detailed account of the incident, Bennaugh reported that he retired to the living room sofa at 2 a.m., only to be disturbed by noises from the kitchen around 5:30 a.m. He claimed Scott Hayes then started aggressively inquiring about the missing TV remote, which escalated when Scott Hayes appeared with two large knives.
In response, Bennaugh pulled out his handgun, a maneuver that initially caused Scott Hayes to retreat. However, when Hayes defied his threats, Bennaugh opened fire. According to Bennaugh, Scott Hayes fled upstairs and showed no signs of injury. This led Bennaugh to believe that he had missed his target.
Subsequently, Bennaugh departed for Lanham, seeking advice from a friend, and later visited a marijuana dispensary. Upon his return, he cleaned the scene, discarding the shells down the toilet and sweeping up wall debris before several associates advised him to contact law enforcement.
The neighborhood was taken aback by the crime that transpired in their otherwise peaceful vicinity. Some locals hesitantly shared their reactions. The court hearing for Bennaugh is scheduled for February 9.