Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Navy Seaman Apprentice, 18, Pleads Not Guilty

A man who allegedly shot and killed an 18-year-old sailor in the East Village, then fled the state, pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge.

Ta’Kari Terell Benness, 20, was arrested on Oct. 16 in St. Cloud, Minn., nearly two months after police say he shot Navy operations specialist seaman apprentice Albert Soto, who was assigned to the San Diego-based destroyer USS Pinckney.

Benness, who was extradited to San Diego this week, faces up to 50 years to life in state prison if convicted of murder, plus an allegation of using a gun in the killing. He remains in custody without bail.

At Benness’ arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Matthew Carberry said Soto was at a club with his friends the night of Aug. 30 when his group got into a fight with Benness and three other men.

The two groups left the venue via separate exits, according to San Diego police Lt. Lou Maggi, but continued arguing outside intermittently for about a half hour.

Carberry said Benness or members of his group said something to the effect of, “I will air this (expletive) out. I’ve got my gun in the car.”

The prosecutor said Soto left, but later returned, “demanding a one-on-one fight in retribution for the fight that took place in the club.” Benness then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the sailor. Soto was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Carberry said Benness fled California on a Greyhound bus.

Police said Benness and the three men he was with were identified “through a combination of public and private security footage, license plate readers, witness interviews and tireless investigative work.” However, no information has been released regarding the other three men.

Soto, a native of Queens in New York City, reported to San Diego for military service in April, six months after enlisting, according to the Navy.