Charlotte police have arrested three men in connection with the homicide of 30-year-old Graham Stanley Burnell Bennett. According to a press release from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) yesterday, detectives, through ongoing investigations, identified Za’Cariya Smith, 19, and Malik Rose, 24, who were apprehended on Tuesday by the department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT). A subsequent arrest of Marquel Coleman, 26, took place on Thursday, aided by the Salisbury Police Department, in Rockwell, North Carolina.
All three suspects faced interviews with homicide detectives at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) before being turned over to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. The trio stand accused of murder, robbery, and conspiracy. Bennett's next of kin have been notified following these developments. The CMPD's Public Affairs Division has advised that the investigation remains active and promises to share information as it unfurls.
The CMPD have not disclosed any potential motives nor the circumstances leading up to Bennett's death, as the matter is still under investigation. The statement by CMPD further encourages anyone who might possess insights pertinent to this case to come forward. Tips can be shared by contacting a Homicide Unit detective at 704-432-8477 (TIPS), or information can be provided anonymously through Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, the P3 Tips Mobile App, or their website. Detective James is currently leading the inquiry into this case, referenced in report 20251018-1701-00.
