Fatal Shooting Over TV Remote Leads To Prison For Roommate

SPRINGDALE, MD — A 40-year-old Springdale man has been sentenced in connection to the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Dominique Scott Hayes.

According to Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson, on Jan. 10, 2024, Richard Bennaugh shot and killed Hayes in their Springdale home during an argument over a TV remote.

The disagreement reportedly started when Bennaugh claimed he was sleeping on the couch and Hayes woke him up, asking where the TV remote was. Bennaugh claimed self-defense, but prosecutors said he kept shooting Hayes even while the victim tried to run away.

"Justice was served today. I'm so, so happy that he got justice," Hayes' sister, Monique Scott Hayes, told reporters after the sentencing.

"My son mattered, and he was chased out like a dog and murdered. And the jury, and the judge and everybody saw right through it," his mother, Monique Scott, also said.

Bennaugh has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder on June 3. Bennaugh also was convicted of the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and tampering with evidence.

“(The) sentence is about honoring the life of the victim and acknowledging the pain their family has endured,” Jackson said after the sentencing. “While no sentence can erase the grief they feel, we hope this outcome brings them a measure of comfort. We are grateful to our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their dedication to this case, and we remain committed to working tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families by holding offenders of violent crime responsible.”