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According to court records, the victim was stopped behind the suspect at a red light on 38th street and Georgetown.
After the light turned green and the suspect didn’t, the victim honked his horn.
Prosecutors believe that honk enraged the suspect who fired one shot into the victim’s car.
A single bullet hole shattered the back window of the victim’s car and claimed the life of 21-year-old Kentrell Settles.
“He’s loved by so many people and so many people are going to miss him and a precious life was taken for no reason,” said the victim’s father Kenneth Murff.
Police were called around 2 p.m. Friday to a neighborhood near 38th and Georgetown and found the victim bleeding in the driver’s seat.
The young man died shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
“He didn’t do anything wrong and for it to still happen, it troubles you as a father,” said Murff.
“It’s beyond senseless,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. “The victim in this case honks his horn and ends up losing his life.”
The affidavit claims 23-year-old Deborah Benefiel got mad that the victim honked his horn, so she followed him and fired a shot into his car.
“The allegation is she couldn’t keep her cool at a traffic light,” said Mears.
“This is just sad and disappointing where people think it’s okay to pick up a firearm and take an action like this and take someone’s life,” said IMPD Officer Tommy Thompson.
IMPD officers quickly used license plate readers to track down the suspect’s SUV. That led to her arrest for murder and criminal recklessness just a few hours after the shooting.
“I’m a huge believer in the license plate readers. It’s been a huge game changer,” said Mears.
Both police and prosecutors hope the case sends a simple message to drivers everywhere.
“We have to be patient. We have to be calm,” said Thompson.
“It’s just a good remind to everybody to keep your cool on the road,” said Mears. “If someone honks their horn, it’s not the end of the world and it should never lead to gun violence.”
“To make a rash decision like that doesn’t make sense and it ruins more than your life, it ruins other people’s lives,” said Murff.
After being arrested, the suspect refused to talk to police.
She was identified as the shooter by the victim’s girlfriend who was in the car when the shooting took place.
Prior to the shooting the suspect did not have a criminal history. She’s now being held without bond pending trial.
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