INDIANAPOLIS, Ind — A tragic case of road rage turned deadly on Indianapolis’s west side Friday afternoon, leaving 21-year-old Kentrell Settles dead and 23-year-old Deborah Benefiel behind bars, charged with murder and criminal recklessness.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), the fatal shooting occurred around 2 p.m. near the intersection of West 38th Street and Georgetown Road, following what began as a minor traffic dispute between the two drivers.
Investigators say Settles, who was driving a gold sedan, encountered Benefiel’s vehicle stopped in traffic. Police say Settles honked his horn and drove around the stopped car to continue through the intersection. Moments later, Benefiel allegedly followed Settles and fired at least one shot into his vehicle.
The confrontation ended a short distance away on Donald Avenue, where responding officers found Settles in the driver’s seat of his vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Detectives were able to identify Benefiel as the shooter within hours of the incident, thanks to eyewitness accounts and automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology that helped track her vehicle’s movements. She was taken into custody that same afternoon in the 1100 block of East Washington Street.
During a search of Benefiel’s residence, investigators recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting. She has since been charged with murder and criminal recklessness, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and is currently being held without bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Daniel Builes, who lives nearby, recalled seeing a sedan driving erratically before the police arrived. “There was someone else in, like a lady,” he said. “She was yelling, she was screaming she was on the phone with the police. I guess after that, they just parked, and police came right away in three minutes. Everyone was yelling. It was kind of chaotic.”
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey condemned the violence, calling the shooting a senseless act that never should have happened.
“The senseless death of this victim is both heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Chief Bailey said in a statement. “This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly anger and violence can destroy lives and families.”
The death of Kentrell Settles has devastated his family and community. Loved ones describe him as a kind, driven, and respectful young man with a bright future ahead. What began as a moment of frustration on the road ended in irreversible tragedy — a life lost and two families forever changed.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the events leading up to the confrontation. IMPD officials urge drivers to remain calm in moments of frustration and avoid escalating conflicts on the road.
“This is a heartbreaking example of how a brief moment of anger can have lifelong consequences,” Chief Bailey added. “We must all remember that no disagreement or delay is worth a life.”
As the community mourns the loss of Kentrell Settles, police hope that this tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of impulsive violence — and the importance of compassion and restraint, even in moments of anger.
