MAN SHOT TO DEATH; NEIGHBOR ARRESTED

Stephen Oneil Kennedy is charged with shooting his neighbor to death Sunday morning. Photo Contributed.

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies responded around
12:40am Sunday to the county' first homicide of 2009.

Authorities said an altercation between two neighbors while drinking led to
the shooting death of John Garfield Benton, 42, 2134 Underwood Lane,
Lincolnton. Benton was pronounced dead at CMC Lincoln.

Deputies arrested and charged Stephen Oneil Kennedy, 39, 2117 Upland
Lane, Lincolnton.

Detective Sgt. Lee Keller said the two men got into an argument and
Kennedy shot Benton one time in the chest with a handgun. Kennedy was
taken into custody without incident at the scene. Officers recovered the
handgun from the residence.

Kennedy is charged with first-degree murder and is being held in the
Harven A. Crouse Detention Center without bond. He will have a first
appearance in Lincoln County District Court on Monday, Feb. 2.