Last Friday evening, Henry Benton (42) got into small fender bender on Oakdale Street near the Joseph Lee Recreation Center. A basketball game had just concluded, and children were spilling onto the sidewalk.
The 63-year-old driver of the other vehicle started to take photographs of the accident, which incensed Benton. He argued with the older driver before they moved onto the sidewalk full of children. Benton proceeded to get into a physical fight with multiple witnesses before he was able to break free and flee.
Benton returned five minutes later having changed into all black clothing and now brandishing a handgun. Benton started firing randomly.
· A 16-year- old from Pacifica was shot in the arm.
· A 12-year-old had a scratch to her face.
· A mother’s car was struck three times as she waited with her children inside.
· Some witnesses said that three of Benton’s shots were aimed directly into a crowd of people.
· One witness, partially hiding behind a tree, felt the bullet go by his face and parts of the tree strike his ribcage.
Mission Station officers picked up Benton fleeing on Division, 5th, and Harrison Streets before handing off the pursuit to Lieutenant Holder who followed Benton back to the Bayview. There, Benton’s flight ended when he crashed into a parked car.
Benton has prior convictions (as opposed to just arrests) for robbery, burglary, and drugs.
My 9 year old daughter and I were at Joe Lee Rec attending her JR. Warriors Basketball game. The 16 yr old girl who was shot was the sister of one of her team mates. This happened around 5:30pm in broad daylight. How is this story not in the SF Chronicle?