Murder suspects arrested after SWAT standoff

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police took two murder suspects into custody after a SWAT team standoff in west Charlotte.

Lakisha Renee Brooks, 26, and Raymond Bernard Sherrill, 43, are both charged with murder in connection with the death of Benny Edward Bennett Jr., 54. Bennett was shot and killed in the parking lot of a gas station on Brookshire Boulevard on Dec. 23. Afterward, authorities asked the public to help them locate a vehicle connected to the shooting — a burgundy or maroon four-door vehicle with a blue front left quarter panel and a “doughnut” spare on the front left tire.

Officers ultimately identified Brooks and Sherrill as suspects and called in the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team to help arrest the pair on Thursday.

Officers located the duo at a home in the 200 block of Bradford Drive, near where Freedom Drive meets Interstate 85. But Sherrill and Brooks refused to make contact with officers, so the department called in the SWAT team.

Shortly afterward, Brooks and Sherrill were arrested without incident. They were interviewed at police headquarters, and were in Mecklenburg jail after being denied bail. In addition to murder, Brooks was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Murder suspects arrested after SWAT standoff."