The Gazebo Gazette
GULFPORT (GG) — On Friday, August 22, 2025, Octavius Louis Lejuan Benton, Sr., from Gulfport, Mississippi pled guilty last week to Manslaughter and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon in connection with the August 28, 2023, stabbing death of Damien Lindsey. Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Bourgeois sentenced Benton to 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
According to Assistant District Attorney Haley Broom, who prosecuted this case, “the crime occurred outside Feed My Sheep in Gulfport, after Lindsey encountered Benton’s girlfriend, who was in a wheelchair. Witnesses and surveillance footage showed that after a brief verbal exchange, Lindsey struck the woman, prompting Benton to stab Lindsey in the abdomen. Lindsey later died at a nearby hospital following surgery.”
“The emotions could be felt from both Lindsey’s family and Benton’s family during the plea hearing,” said ADA Broom. Lindsey’s family member expressed forgiveness, with one member telling Benton, “Take heed and read your Bible. I don’t know you, but I am going to continue to love you.”
Judge Bourgeois, in delivering the sentence, reflected on the grief in the courtroom, stating, “There is no winner. You are losing your freedom, but Mr. Lindsey lost his life, and lost it at your hand.”
“This case represents another heartbreaking and entirely avoidable loss of life, the result of emotion overwhelming reason. Everyone in that courtroom wishes they could turn back time and change what happened, but that’s the harsh reality of making permanent decisions based on fleeting emotions, all that remains is the responsibility to face the consequences,’ said District Attorney W. Crosby Parker.
