Duwayne Bennett, 44

Duwayne Bennett, 44-year-old black man was stabbed outside an International House of Pancakes restaurant located at 4070 Lincoln Blvd in Marina Del Rey at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday, March 1. Bennett was transported to UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:18 a.m. Officers with LAPD's Pacific Division later arrested Victor Vela, 37, on suspicion of murder. According to police, Bennett and Vela began arguing outside a bar as it was preparing to close. The argument was broken up, but escalated further after Vela followed Bennett across the street to the restaurant, where Vela allegedly struck the man with a bicycle chain, stabbed him, then fled the scene on a skateboard, according to witnesses.

Comments

[Lee Locke]

This is not the First Murder by Victor Vela. He did 9 years on a 15 year sentence 10 years ago for Manslaughter (drug deal gone wrong). Our system lets people like this out on the street to do these crimes over and over. This one could have been prevented.

[Tina]

R.I.P. My brother!! I will see you again someday.. You will always shine in my heart for you died for caring for protecting a friend. I know where you are and i can come to you anytime in prayer as you are your families angel in the time of need and trouble. "YOU WILL LOVE YOU & YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED"!!!

Your sista.. :O)

Tina

[E.S. Max Aronov]

My sincerest condolences to Tonia and her family on the loss of a son and brother. Duwayne has moved on - all the rest of us can do is to mourn his passing and try to make sense of the senseless...
Max 3/15/08

[Holly]

Thank you, Fernando. We never realize how much we love someone until they are gone and we can never tell them just how much we loved them. Victor Vela has been charged with First Degree Murder (premeditated) since he left and came back to do what he did. DuWayne died protecting someone younger and smaller than himself. He gave his life for a friend.( It doesn't matter where senseless acts of violence happen. They happen everywhere, all over the world, every day and people lose their loved ones as a result.)

[Fred Papele]

The last time I saw Duwayne he was 6 years old. I still am in contact with his mother and his sibs and wish peace for their days. There is nothing I can do for Duwayne ; he is now just a loving memory for his friends and family and it is to them I open my heart and offer my condolences and whatever else they might ask of me. Fred P.

[DuWayne's Mother and East Coast Family]

We want to thank all of DuWaynes' friends out on the west coast for all the kind words and condolences. Although he lived on the west coast, we loved and cared for him our beloved son, brother, uncle and friend.
We want to give a special thank you to Dominique Sicile and Aaron Bennett, his "white brother" for all their help with the arrangements out there. We also appreciate and thank all of his friends who supported him in life and in his death. Our heartfelt thanks to you all. DuWayne has attained in his death what he didn't in his life and that is FAME.
We hope to be in touch personally with some of y'all out there.
I forgive and feel sorry for his murderer and his family.
Peace and love,
Tonia Duncan, mother, and Family and Friends

[Tina]

Hello everyone,
My name is Tina, and Duwayne was born right after me.
I loved my brother will all my heart and haven't seen him in years. Thank you for all the nice comments you had to say about him. He will be missed trully. Funeral services here are on Wednesday. I know when i see him for the first time at least in 10 yrs. i'm going to freak out.. Please keep our family in your prayers.

"WE LOVE YOU DUWAYNE"!!! XO

[mike]

i know for a fact that there are these same "maniacs" in the Marina, Playa Del Rey, etc. it's not where they live it's where we all live. "maniacs" are partying on the beach in Malibu, Palisades, in the alleys of Beverly Hills, Brentwood.... We all have a real problem. Rest In Peace Duwayne.

[I KEEP IT 100]

Condolences to Duwayne Bennet's family, I'm sorry for your loss. Also, according to mapquest 4070 Lincoln Blvd. Marina Del Rey, CA 90292-5614 and according to usps.com (United States Postal Service.

I KEEP IT 100

[Fernando]

For all of us that have the opportunity to share part of our lives with DuWayne and enjoy his wonderful heart this has been a terrible and sad experience. I know you are with our Holly Father and you will be in our memory always.

[William Lee]

DuWayne is and forever will be a friend of mine. He was also a co-worker and we are hurt by this loss. It is very tragic on every aspect one life is gone and another wasted on a very bad choice and many others hurt because of this. No one really wins. He is loved by many and missed by even more. As he touched the lives of all he encountered. Not very often do you meet a genuine person like him. God bless his family and us, his friends!

[Holly]

DuWayne was my friend. Yes, please rest in peace. All of us who loved him are in horrible shock and sorrow at his passing. Hell is waiting for his murderer.

[Otis]

And your point is what? Does that effect your property value, is that why? You better pray you never cross one if these maniacs that will kill you for looking at them the wroig way!
RIP Duwayne Bennett

[dnero]

Businesses in the area might claim MDR, but Marina del Rey this is not. Check your Thomas Guide - the boundaries are clear.