Markus Xavier Benavidez allegedly told officers he 'did what I did' after police say the 20-year-old fired several rounds into his sleeping father inside the family's Corpus Christi, Texas home on July 13.
Background
The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m. at a residence on Greenwich Drive in Corpus Christi. According to an affidavit obtained by KIII and KRIS, Benavidez's mother called 911 to report that her son had shot her husband in the head. Officers arrived to find the defendant standing outside between the garage and a white SUV, where he was held at gunpoint until additional units arrived.
Inside the home, police discovered Markus Benavidez, 47, lying on a bed with a pool of blood beneath his head. An officer checked for a pulse but found no heartbeat. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
The mother told investigators her son had recently been hospitalized for several days and was experiencing hallucinations along with other drug withdrawal symptoms. She said she called a crisis hotline roughly one hour before the violence because her son reported not feeling well. While her husband went to sleep, she stayed up with her son and observed him nodding off and appearing to look at the ceiling as if someone were speaking to him.
As the night progressed, Benavidez's behavior became increasingly erratic, according to police. When his father was asleep, the defendant allegedly grabbed a handgun from a nightstand and fired a round at the victim.
The Investigation
The woman told investigators she attempted to intervene after hearing the first shot but then heard multiple shots ring out during a struggle. By the time she reached him, it was too late.
After being taken into custody, police read Benavidez his Miranda rights just before midnight. During an attempted custodial interview, he initially refused to answer questions and requested an attorney. However, as officers transferred him to a patrol car and moved to close the door, he allegedly said: 'I did what I did.'
Investigators collected a firearm and a bullet from the bedroom. Police also subjected Benavidez to gunshot residue testing. The Corpus Christi Police Department is handling the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Benavidez has been charged with one count of murder. He is being held in the Nueces County Jail without bond.
Key Takeaways
- Markus Xavier Benavidez, 20, is accused of murdering his father, Markus Benavidez, 47, at their Corpus Christi home on July 13
- The defendant allegedly shot his sleeping father with a handgun retrieved from a nightstand after displaying hallucinatory behavior linked to drug withdrawal
- Police say the mother called a crisis hotline approximately one hour before the shooting due to her son's deteriorating condition
- Benavidez told officers 'I did what I did' as he was being placed into a patrol car, according to the affidavit
- He is currently detained in Nueces County Jail on no bond following a murder charge
What's Next
The investigation into the shooting remains active. The Corpus Christi Police Department continues to process evidence, including gunshot residue analysis and ballistics testing from the firearm recovered at the scene. Benavidez is awaiting arraignment proceedings in Nueces County court.
No trial date has been set. Prosecutors have filed for no bond, meaning a judge will determine whether bail applies or if the defendant remains detained pending resolution of the murder charge.