Man charged with murder in daughter’s shooting death

A Macon man is jail on charges of murder and aggravated assault in the shooting of his daughter and wife early Sunday.

Benny Bell Jr., 67, is accused in the shooting death of his daughter Demetrice Bell, 37, at his home on Lakeshore Avenue in east Macon, said Bibb County Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Williams. His wife, Thelma Bell, 65, was shot in the lower abdomen and taken to the Medical Center, Navicent Health. She is listed in stable condition. Demetrice Bell was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene.

Williams said the shooting resulted from an argument that happened a little after 3 a.m. when Demetrice Bell returned home. A fight began and Benny Bell retrieved a handgun, then shot both during an ensuing struggle, Williams said.

A neighbor who asked not to be identified said the shooting came as a shock to him. He said that while he did not know Benny Bell well, he has known him for many years and had never heard of any trouble from him or any arguing from the house.

Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said it’s the county’s eighth homicide of the year.

Marilyn Boston lived across the street from the Bells for many years. Boston had moved out of the neighborhood when her son was murdered in 2004, but she said Benny Bell stopped by to express his condolences. Boston’s husband was a Vietnam veteran double amputee, and she remembered Benny Bell coming by to help him do things.

She said she never knew of him showing signs of violence or having any other kind of trouble.

“I was just floored,” she said of hearing the news Sunday morning. “I was just thinking what could possibly have gone wrong? What would have brought that about?”

This story was originally published May 14, 2017 at 6:43 AM with the headline "Man charged with murder in daughter’s shooting death."