Murder Verdict: Gwinnett Man Guilty In 2014 Shooting

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A Gwinnett County man has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for shooting and killing another man during a 2014 robbery.

A Gwinnett County jury on Friday convicted Marquavis Benton, 28, on charges of murder, felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and theft by taking in the death of Brian Whitfield, of Auburn.

On December 6, 2014, Benton and two women attempted to rob Whitfield at gunpoint at his home during the early-morning hours. As he held Whitfield at gunpoint, Benton directed the women to begin loading Whitfield's possessions into a Dodge Rumblebee truck.

Whitfield tried to get away and ran down his driveway toward the road, but Benton followed and gunned him down, firing as many as five shots. Benton and the women then left the property in Whitfield' truck, taking a television, jewelry and several guns.

After receiving a tip linking Benton to the stolen property, Gwinnett County Police Detective Collin Flynn was able to obtain a recording of Benton saying that he shot Whitfield because "he was running."

Following the jury’s verdict, Superior Court Judge George Hutchinson handed down the sentence of two consecutive life terms.

"It is clear that you have a completely callous disregard for the value of human life," Hutchinson said

during sentencing.

Gwinnett County Police investigated the case.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department