John Jefferson
Background: Markeem Brunson is allegedly seen outside Renise Wolfe’s apartment (Clark County District Court/KLAS). Insets: Markeem Bunson and his slain girlfriend Renise Wolfe (North Las Vegas Police/KLAS/YouTube).
A Las Vegas man allegedly threatened to murder his girlfriend in a doorbell video, telling her “I just want to kill your a–” before shooting her four times in the back of her head — and then claiming self-defense, prosecutors say.
“I just almost want to kill you, b—-,” 29-year-old Markeem Benson allegedly told Renise “NeNe” Wolfe, whom he just started dating five months earlier, in a doorbell video obtained by the Clark County District Attorney’s Office and local CBS affiliate KLAS.
Multiple videos captured within a span of several hours on Dec. 22 appear to show Benson at Wolfe’s apartment on the night she was killed wearing different sets of clothes and wiping up blood, according to the North Las Vegas Police Department and Clark County prosecutors. He is also seen and heard allegedly threatening her.
Benson is accused of shooting and killing Wolfe, 33, just days before Christmas at her residence in the 100 block of East Rome Boulevard near Centennial Parkway. Benson’s father, who reportedly discovered Wolfe’s body, allegedly called police and told them Benson wanted to turn himself in for the fatal shooting. Benson, who was on probation for an attempted robbery conviction at the time, was taken into custody and arraigned on murder and weapons charges.
“He shot her while she was laying on the ground. In a fetal position, behind the ear,” said Tracy Coleman, Wolfe’s mother, in an interview with KLAS last month. “What does that tell you?”
Michelle Jobe, the Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney, has reported that Benson claims the shooting was done in self-defense and that Wolfe attacked him that night. “He claims there was a struggle and the gun went off,” Jobe said at Benson’s arraignment in December, per KLAS.
The incident happened after Benson allegedly told Wolfe’s mother that he’d drive her home and “take care of her” following a family holiday party.
“Please get my daughter home safe,” Coleman recalled telling Benson in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“I’ll get her home safe,” Benson allegedly replied as he walked Coleman to her car on Saturday night.
“I’ll take care of her, I promise,” Benson also reportedly said.
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Wolfe’s family told the Review-Journal that they never expected Benson would do something like this, with him coming off to them as a caring and loving boyfriend in interactions with her and them.
“He makes you really trust him,” Coleman said, adding that Benson was always checking in on Wolfe and dropping in at her work to see her.
“That’s how he took care of her,” Coleman also said.
Wolfe’s family has reportedly been at North Las Vegas Justice Court for each of Benson’s appearances.
At his arraignment, a physical confrontation and fight broke out between Wolfe’s family and Benson’s relatives afterward, which resulted in Wolfe’s father — a former Las Vegas police officer — being detained by cops in handcuffs, according to KLAS. The fight happened after Wolfe’s dad allegedly charged at a man identified by local media as Benson’s brother, who was taunting Wolfe’s family in court, according Coleman and others. No one was charged for the incident.
Benson remains behind bars as he’s been denied bond due to him having prior convictions that include home invasion and attempted robbery, which led to him being placed on probation in November.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 6.
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