Melvin Leroy Grayson
KINGMAN – Police report a Kingman man who allegedly shot and killed his roommate at their residence early Wednesday was arrested the following day in Bullhead City. Deputy Kingman Police Chief Joel Freed said officers responded at about 6:30 a.m., on July 24 to a residence in the 2200 block of Davis Avenue.
“Officers found Patrick Eugene Benson, 31, of Kingman, with a single gunshot wound to the head,” Freed said. “Life saving measures were attempted, but Benson ultimately died on scene.”
Freed said investigators determined that the victim’s roommate, Melvin Leroy Grayson, 58, had fled the scene. A warrant for his arrest was issued and Grayson was subsequently taken into custody in Bullhead City.
Bullhead City Police Department Public Information Officer Emily Fromelt said a Corporal spotted a man fitting Grayson’s description at the Circle K store in the 2500 block of Highway 95 at about 3:25 a.m. on July 25. She said the subject matched a picture and that Grayson was arrested without incident in the convenience store parking lot.
Kingman police traveled to Bullhead City to transport the suspect back to Kingman where he was booked into the Adult Detention Center for first-degree murder, aggravated assault and prohibited weapon possession related charges.
Freed said detectives interviewed witnesses to the shooting, but that any motive is unknown and the focus of ongoing investigation. He said the murder weapon was not recovered initially.
Dave Hawkins