Jury Convicts Man in Robbery, Murder of Teen on Way to School

Prince County jurors deliberated two hours Monday before convicting a Charles County man of killing a teen while he was walking to school in 2012.

Travon Bennett, 21, of Bryans Road, was convicted of first-degree murder for killing 18-year-old Marckel Ross during a robbery attempt while he was on his way to Central High School in Capitol Heights, reports WBAL TV.

Bennett was arrested more than a month after Ross’ death on unrelated robbery charges, the TV station reports. During a search of his home, police found the gun used to kill Ross, who didn’t have a creditable alibi.

Assistant State’s Attorney Wes Adams, a Severna Park resident running for Anne Arundel State’s Attorney, tried the case and secured the conviction, reports the Capital-Gazette.

“The jury got it right,” Adams told the newspaper.

Bennett was also convicted of felony murder, attempted robbery, the use of a handgun in the commission of a violent crime and other related charges. He faces life in prison without parole when he’s sentenced in October, WBAL says.

In June, Adams defeated Annapolis attorney Richard Simmons in the Republican primary for Anne Arundel State’s Attorney, says the newspapers. He will face incumbent State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess, a Democrat, in the November general election.