AUTHORITIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE MAN SHOT AND KILLED LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AT A PORT CHARLOTTE MOTEL AND HAVE ARRESTED TWO OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH. CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY 40 YEAR OLD JOSEPH BENNETT OF NORTH PORT WAS GUNNED DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE KNIGHTS INN ON TAMIAMI TRAIL JUST BEFORE 11:45PM SUNDAY. HE DIED IN LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ON MONDAY. DEPUTIES SAY 28 YEAR OLD MERCEDES STINER OF VENICE AND 30 YEAR OLD JOSEPH SALMON OF PORT CHARLOTTE WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY MONDAY ON FELONY MURDER CHARGES AFTER THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT COCAINE WAS INVOLVED. THE INCIDENT REPORTEDLY BEGAN SUNDAY ON I-75 SOUTH OF OCALA WHEN BENNETT ASKED STINER TO GET HIM COCAINE. SHE TEXTED SALMON AND THEY MET AT THE MOTEL ALONG WITH 29 YEAR OLD CHRISTINA MURRAY OF NORTH PORT. A GUNSHOT WAS HEARD AND THE TWO WOMEN SAW BENNETT LYING FACE DOWN WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST. BENNETT SPIT OUT SUSPECTED CRACK COCAINE AND STINER ALLEGEDLY PUT IT IN HER PURSE ALONG WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH FOUND UNDER BENNETT. STINER AND SALMON WERE LOCATED MONDAY AND BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING. THEY WERE ARRESTED AND REMAIN IN THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BOND. SALMON IS A CONVICTED FELON WITH 13 BOOKINGS AND 23 RECORDS. DETECTIVES SAY THE MURDER-DRUG CASE REMAINS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION, BUT THEY DID NOT SAY IF MURRAY IS A SUSPECT IN THE CASE.
