2 teens indicted in shooting death of 9-year-old Brandoniya Bennett

Two teens have been indicted on murder charges in the death of a 9-year-old girl who was fatally shot in her apartment in Old East Dallas in August.

Tyrese Simmons and Davonte Benton, both 19, were indicted Thursday by a Dallas County grand jury.

Brandoniya Bennett was in her home Aug. 14 when police say Simmons shot into the apartment in the 3500 block of Munger Avenue.

Police said Simmons was in a feud with someone who lived in the complex and fired into the home after mistaking it for his rival’s. The 9-year-old was scheduled to start school the following week.

Simmons surrendered to police the day after the shooting and police charged him with capital murder. Police arrested Benton a few weeks later, also on a capital murder charge. Neither was indicted on a capital count.

Brandoniya’s death sparked calls from the community for peace. In the wake of the shooting, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson established a task force to address violent crimes.