A Las Vegas man has been charged with open murder after allegedly shooting his girlfriend, Renise “NeNe” Wolfe, four times in the head, despite assuring her mother, “I will get her home safe.”
Markeem Benson, 29, is accused of killing Wolfe, 33, in their apartment on Sunday. An autopsy revealed that the fatal shots were fired in the back of his skull, according to the Las Vegas Magazine. Wolfe, a beloved tattoo artist, was found dead in her apartment building shortly after attending a family gathering with Benson.
At the party, Wolfe’s mother, Tracy Coleman, recalled urging Benson to ensure her daughter’s safety. He replied, “I will bring her home safely. I will take care of her, I promise.” Tracy’s pain deepened when she was later forced to clean up her daughter’s blood from the crime scene.
She shared her anguish with him Review-Journal, saying: “The day before she was killed, I was driving home and just saying, ‘Lord, thank you for all these blessings that I have. My children are all happy. “My children are fine and this will be the best Christmas of my life.”
Wolfe’s death has devastated her friends and colleagues at the Vegas Life Ink tattoo parlor, where she was known for her vibrant personality and artistic talent. Chino Smith, his former boss, told 3News, “When she was here, it seemed like the vibe was going to break, you know?
Like it’s going to get good. But now he looks dead, it’s scary.” Nina Smith, the salon’s manager, described Wolfe as “the definition of a person with a kind heart and someone who stays out of other people’s business.”
Friends have flooded social media with tributes to Wolfe. A close friend wrote: “She was the sweetest and most talented person! Every time we saw each other, it was always love. You didn’t deserve this and I pray for your family. RIP.”
Benson, who has previous convictions for burglary and attempted robbery, also faces charges of being a former felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared virtually in court on Christmas Eve, as Wolfe’s grieving family looked on.
As loved ones mourn the tragic loss, the case highlights the painful intersection between domestic violence and gun violence. Wolfe’s legacy as a talented artist and kind-hearted friend lives on in the memories of those she touched.