A teenager who gunned down a
chef then boasted about the murder on social media has been sentenced to
life in prison.
Raheem Benson,
18, from Colorado, was ordered to serve life in prison Friday in the death of
33-year-old Nicholas Lewis in Englewood, news station KMGH reported.
Benson allegedly
targeted Lewis at random while the chef was walking home from a convenience
store in October 2016. Prosecutors said the then-16-year-old Benson shot
him three times, including in the heart. Lewis was found lying on his back on
the sidewalk and rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
Benson then
reportedly took to Facebook to brag about the slaying. He also posted photos in
which he posed with the mask he wore and the gun he used, the Denverite
reported. Police were able to link Benson to the crime from a vehicle seen
on security camera footage.
Benson was found
guilty of first-degree felony murder, second-degree murder and attempted
aggravated robbery in March. He was sentenced to life in prison with the
possibility of parole after 40 years.
District Attorney
George H. Brauchler expressed disappointment Friday that the teen’s sentence
included the possibility of parole after 40 years.
Brauchler said:
"Benson murdered for the mere thrill of killing another person. At any
age, this can only be described as evil. Colorado’s system is now set up to
ensure that this cold-blooded murderer will again walk our streets, likely as
early as in his 40s. We can only hope that his heart is turned away from
darkness in the couple of decades he is incarcerated and we are safe from
him."
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