Benjamin Hawkins, of Gainesville, Fl, charged with murder in Las Vegas

Las Vegas police say Benjamin Hawkins, of Gainesville, killed a Utah man with one punch to the face at O'Shea's Casino.

[jenn]

good luck ben. we who know you know your not a murder. i hope they let you go with a simple charge. its called self defence!!!!!

[PLAINSIGHT]

yeah, give 'im a slap on the wrist or stand him in a corner. A sucker puncher is a coward and low-life. I hope he gets prison time where his wife can see him often. This crap does not manifest itself out of the blue. Keep him in LV,NV.

[Pro Bono]

I have been there in LVN. Casinos have a lot of security and off duty police. I don't know why Ben did not report this man he thought was annoying him rather than throw a single fatal punch.

The secuirty video will at least give some explanation as to what really happened. I hope it is not turned into the self serving race card defense. We need peace and racial harmony in our community and not violence, Praise Jesus and Dr King!!

Now, one good man dead, his wife a widow, his children fatherless and another will be criminally prosecuted, financially desimated by leagal fees, and may ultimitely spend years in prison, loose his career and family. Yes, just one punch.

[jesus]

he is a good man i know him personaly he is not violent

[SLS1]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.Ben has a lot of people praying for him and I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot the negative ones would want someone praying for them also. No one is saying give him a slap on the wrist but no one is saying sit there and let someone follow you around bullying and threating you either. If Las Vegas had so much security and all the officers as everyone claim, why weren't they aware of all this that took place outside of the restroom before it escalated inside of the restroom? Someone walks up to you with their hands in their pocket, I ask what would really be your reaction? As far as it being a sucker punch, you can call it what you will, there is no rules in fighting or defending your life. That's a situation that will work either way for each party involved. People say what they want but until you actually go thru the actual situation at hand, you can't say what you will do.

[al kramer]

a man is dead, he had his hands in his pocket while murdered, leave color out of it, mr hawkins meant to punch a man not kill him, but the result was the man died?? no one thought oj was violent either

[Pro Bono]

SLS1 wrote:

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.Ben has a lot of people praying for him and I'm sure if the shoe was on the other foot the negative ones would want someone praying for them also. No one is saying give him a slap on the wrist but no one is saying sit there and let someone follow you around bullying and threating you either. If Las Vegas had so much security and all the officers as everyone claim, why weren't they aware of all this that took place outside of the restroom before it escalated inside of the restroom? Someone walks up to you with their hands in their pocket, I ask what would really be your reaction? As far as it being a sucker punch, you can call it what you will, there is no rules in fighting or defending your life. That's a situation that will work either way for each party involved. People say what they want but until you actually go thru the actual situation at hand, you can't say what you will do.

It is important for you to report the facts accurately. By all accounts the victim had his hands in his pockets, turned, wlked away and Ben threw a punch striking the victim on the left jaw, yes, indeed a sucker punch to an unsuspecting man. Ben was not, I repeat NOT defending himself against attack. The video tells the entire story. Nice guy or not he murdered another human being and MUST be held accountable. Sad as it may be he will be going away for a long time.

I wish he had of kept his cool, simply walked away instead of throwing that forceful deadly punch. No doubt being a coach and a physical fitness professional he knew just how and where to strike for the maximimum effect and he did.

I feel badly for his plight but also for the unsuspecting victim who died at Bens hands. I hope he stands up, takes responsibility and doesw his time like the man he is. I am wondering if there are any independant witnesses that can back up Bens claims that the man did in fact make racial comments or if this is just another one of those Black versus White defenses that sometimes occur when it is convienient.

[bradford 2011]

PLAINSIGHT wrote:

yeah, give 'im a slap on the wrist or stand him in a corner. A sucker puncher is a coward and low-life. I hope he gets prison time where his wife can see him often. This crap does not manifest itself out of the blue. Keep him in LV,NV.

you dont know him or nothing about him all you know is what some ignorant reporter says about him.

[Manual LaBore]

bradford 2011 wrote:

<quoted text>
you dont know him or nothing about him all you know is what some ignorant reporter says about him.

Well, I know him, I like him, but he really fked up man. I mean a lot a dudes makin fun of me too and I don't fckn kill them. He better get Hosea Baez, he will get his ass off quick.

[Manual LaBore]

Pro Bono wrote:

<quoted text>
It is important for you to report the facts accurately. By all accounts the victim had his hands in his pockets, turned, wlked away and Ben threw a punch striking the victim on the left jaw, yes, indeed a sucker punch to an unsuspecting man. Ben was not, I repeat NOT defending himself against attack. The video tells the entire story. Nice guy or not he murdered another human being and MUST be held accountable. Sad as it may be he will be going away for a long time.
I wish he had of kept his cool, simply walked away instead of throwing that forceful deadly punch. No doubt being a coach and a physical fitness professional he knew just how and where to strike for the maximimum effect and he did.
I feel badly for his plight but also for the unsuspecting victim who died at Bens hands. I hope he stands up, takes responsibility and doesw his time like the man he is. I am wondering if there are any independant witnesses that can back up Bens claims that the man did in fact make racial comments or if this is just another one of those Black versus White defenses that sometimes occur when it is convienient.

Do you live in The Villages?

[Manual LaBore]

Good thing his ole lady works in a bank cause they will need a $100,000 for the lawyer minimum. I guess he can serve his time in florida if his family is here but i am not sure. I dont think the race stuff will fly as they got the tape and his buddy Mr Brown said it was not a race card siuation.

[Manual LaBore]

Good thing his ole lady works at the bank cus he will need a 100000 grand for the lawyer and maybe more. I believe he may be able to do his time in Florida but iam not sure. His buddy a Mr Brown who was with him said race had nothing to do with it so i hopes they dont try the usual race card sht it will hurt him.

[I SUPPORT BEN]

it is unfotunate a man lost his life but ben is no killer!! and u wish bad things on his family CARMA!!!! you shouldnt wish bad things on people bad things may come to you.

[I SUPPORT BEN]

Pro Bono wrote:

I have been there in LVN. Casinos have a lot of security and off duty police. I don't know why Ben did not report this man he thought was annoying him rather than throw a single fatal punch.
The secuirty video will at least give some explanation as to what really happened. I hope it is not turned into the self serving race card defense. We need peace and racial harmony in our community and not violence, Praise Jesus and Dr King!!
Now, one good man dead, his wife a widow, his children fatherless and another will be criminally prosecuted, financially desimated by leagal fees, and may ultimitely spend years in prison, loose his career and family. Yes, just one punch.

you wish bad on his family you are nuts. carma carma carma. ben is a great man. you shouldnt wish bad things on people how would u feel if it ben was a family member of yours and some one wished u and your family dead. god will look down on you. judge not less you be judged!!!!!!!!!!

[Sunshine State]

This man has abused/hit people in his life that he said he loved. This isn't a shock to me. Come on, self defense, the man killed wasn't threatening him, he had his hands by his side. This is what he teaches the kids at his school, if someone makes a stupid comment, just punch him to shut him up or kill him. I hope Benjamin Hawkins spends a lot of time in prison for all his actions he has done in life.

[inUT]

Attended the funeral today for John Massie. What a horrible tradegy and an unneccesary loss. His beautiful daughters and young son are now without their father.
Claims of self defense seem hard to believe when cameras show John standing with his hands in his pockets and Hawkins turning and punching him. If he was in such fear for his safety why not report it to security? Instead 2 families lives are completely devastated and forever effected by the stupid choice Hawkins made to turn and throw a fatal punch.
Also a tradegy that this is the example he set for the High School students he coached in FL.

[Haylee]

My family knows Ben personally and no way is he a killer. Hes a good man.

[inUT]

Haylee wrote:

My family knows Ben personally and no way is he a killer. Hes a good man.

Well, actually he did kill someone. I don't think that's up for debate.
He may not of intentionally set out to kill him, but because of his actions he did kill a man.
John was a good man.

[Seek justice]

From what little we know it appears that both men made poor choices. John may have made inappropriate comments and created a situation where Ben felt threatened. We dont know - we were not there. Ben threw a punch - i doubt that killing a man ever entered Ben's mind. Both men screwed up and a tragedy resulted. I do not know the facts but I pray that true justice is administered. Throwing figuritive punches on this post at Ben or his family doesnt serve the interest of justice. Even without jail, Ben's life has been tragically altered - his career as an educator and coach will be ended. He still has a family that he's responsible for. Lets pray that the justice system is fair and unbiased.

[Senior Citizen]

Seek justice wrote:

From what little we know it appears that both men made poor choices. John may have made inappropriate comments and created a situation where Ben felt threatened. We dont know - we were not there. Ben threw a punch - i doubt that killing a man ever entered Ben's mind. Both men screwed up and a tragedy resulted. I do not know the facts but I pray that true justice is administered. Throwing figuritive punches on this post at Ben or his family doesnt serve the interest of justice. Even without jail, Ben's life has been tragically altered - his career as an educator and coach will be ended. He still has a family that he's responsible for. Lets pray that the justice system is fair and unbiased.

Let us not forget about the victim, his family, children and friends. Ben made the bad choice by throwing a punch at an unsuspecting human being and took his life. He is not not a hero at all. What did the poor man do to be put to death by Ben Hawkins????