Teenagers plead not guilty to murder of Tacoma man

Two teenagers are charged with murder for killing a Tacoma man during a robbery earlier this month. Lawrence Howse was found shot dead in his condominium parking garage September 5.

Andrew Boyd, 18, and Jeremy Bennett, 17, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon in Pierce County Superior Court.

“Boyd and Bennett are out there looking for someone to rob, they find the victim and when they don’t get as much money as they’re hoping for, Boyd tells the victim to take off his pants and when the victim refused, Boyd shot him,” said prosecuting attorney Mark Lindquist.

Boyd and Jaron Bennett, 24, Jeremy’s brother, have also been charged with Robbery in the Second Degree for a stick-up of a Walgreens drug store on September 3, two days before the killing. Jaron Bennett has also been charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm for a gun found during a search of his bedroom. Titeana Bankston, 20, and Jheri Flood, 24, were charged with Rendering Criminal Assistance for helping Boyd and Jeremy Bennett hide and destroy evidence after the murder, according to the prosecuting attorney.

“This was a mindless murder that violated a sense of safety in our community,” said Lindquist.
He said surveillance video and witnesses helped identify the accused killers.

Bail was set at $3 million for Boyd and $2 million for Bennett.