A Las Vegas courthouse was thrown into chaos as two families argued after a court hearing for a man accused of shooting his girlfriend to death before she went to bed and then reporting the murder to police nine hours later.
Lenise Wolfe's family appeared Thursday in North Las Vegas Justice Court for Markeem Benson's felony arraignment and met with Benson's supporters.
Benson was charged with open murder and possession of a firearm as a felon in last weekend's shooting death of Wolf, according to court records.
In the lobby after the hearing, Wolfe's father, former police officer Robert Wolfe, charged the man who was identified as Benson's brother. KLAS reported.
Wolfe's mother, Tracy Coleman, claimed Benson's brother was hostile to the family.
Robert Wolfe was escorted to his car by court marshals.
Once the courthouse was empty, both families met again outside and a second altercation began, but the second altercation did not turn physical.
No charges have been filed against Wolf, who is elderly.
Lenise Wolfe and Benson had only been dating for five months when the alleged shooting inside their apartment took place.
The couple attended a family holiday party on Dec. 21 and at first it seemed normal, but an argument broke out when a female acquaintance of Benson showed up, the newspaper reported.
The police report said Benson was known to be “very possessive” and had a history of getting into fights. Displayed by KSNV.
After leaving the party, Benson and Wolf went to an apartment on East Roman Boulevard near Centennial Parkway and Fifth Avenue, where an argument broke out between the couple.
Benson's father told police that the 33-year-old tattoo artist chased her boyfriend with a gun and during an argument, “the gun went off,” police said.
On Dec. 22, Benson called his brother and father and told them he had done something wrong.
Benson's father called police at 10:16 a.m. and said his son called him and said, “I killed her, I think I killed her.”
The murder suspect “fell asleep” and could not remember how long ago the murder occurred.
“Although Markeem said he fell asleep after the shooting, police were not contacted for nearly nine hours after the shooting,” the report said.
Detectives said Wolfe was shot four times in the back of the head and noted that the angle of the shots indicated Benson was aiming at the victim.
“This means Markeem was standing over Lenise when he fired the shot,” the report states.
Wolfe's grieving mother claimed her daughter was shot as she lay defenseless on the ground.
“He shot her while she was lying on the ground in the fetal position, behind her ear. That tells you what,” Coleman told KLAS through tears.
Benson, who was arrested outside a nearby restaurant on Sunday, was denied bail on Thursday, the judge added, adding that he was on probation at the time of his arrest.
Benson's past includes felonies for burglary and attempted robbery, according to court records.
He is being held at the North Las Vegas Community Correctional Center and is scheduled to reappear in court on January 30, 2025.
