Louisville Man Charged In The Shooting Of A United States Postal Carrier

NEWS RELEASE

Louisville, Ky. – A Louisville man appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin today, charged by Criminal Complaint with the assault of a United States Postal Carrier (while engaged in the performance of his official duties) and with the discharge of a firearm during the commission of a violent offense, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.

Marcus Bennett, a/k/a MIZ, was arrested Saturday, February 20, 2016, and charged in a criminal complaint, that was unsealed today in federal court. The charges are in connection with the shooting of United States Postal Carrier Da’Ron Lester on February 10, 2016. According to an Affidavit by the United States Postal Inspection Service, in support of the complaint, Bennett was seated in the passenger seat of a 2009 Pontiac G8, when his brother, Eric Bennett, allegedly opened fire on Lester. Eric Bennett, 37, was arrested February 16, 2016, by Louisville Metro Police and charged in Jefferson County Circuit Court with attempted murder and first-degree assault. Marcus Bennett lives at a residence on South 38th Street in Louisville, which is in Lester’s postal delivery area. Lester was performing his official duties as a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee when he was shot multiple times on Dearborn Avenue in Louisville. At the time of the shooting, Lester indicated that he knew the person who shot him and subsequently stated to inspectors that he was shot by Eric Bennett. A search of Lester’s cell phone found a listing for MIZ (Marcus Bennett) in his contacts.

Marcus Bennett remains in federal custody with a bond hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 2016 before Magistrate Judge Whalin. Bennett faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years to life in prison for the charge of discharging a firearm during the commission of a violent offense and faces up to 20 years in prison for the assault of a federal employee while engaged in the performance of his official duties.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Davis and Marisa Ford, and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is conducting the investigation.

The charge of a person by Criminal Complaint is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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