Man fatally shot roommate over remote control dispute

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Prince George’s County, Maryland (Suburban D.C.) Police arrested and charged 38-year-old Richard Bennaugh with manslaughter in connection to the fatal shooting of his 27-year old roommate Domonique Scott Hayes over what court documents describe as a dispute over a television remote control.

According to authorities, on January 10, 2024 officers responded to the report of a shooting. Officers discovered the decedent inside of the home suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed Bennaugh shot Hayes during a dispute, officials said.

According to other media reports, court documents revealed Bennaugh told investigators he went to the second floor to sleep on the living room sofa at or around 2 a.m.  He woke up at or around 5:30 a.m. to the sound of Hayes in the kitchen,”making a lot of noise.” Shortly after, he said Hayes shouted at him, asking about the whereabouts of the remote control.

Bennaugh said he ignored him. His roommate then asked several more times where the remote was located. Bennaugh then said he removed a blanket that was placed on top of his head to discover Hayes had two large knives. Bennaugh said this prompted him to grab his gun and point it directly at his roommate.

After allegedly killing his roommate, Bennaugh then took a nap, drove to a friend’s home and later to a marijuana dispensary before returning home to smoke. According to court documents, Bennaugh collected the fired cartridge casings, flushed them down the toilet, and swept the dust from the damage in the walls.

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