Trial scheduled for murder allegedly stemming from spitting incident – The Oakland Press

Oakland County District Court (Aileen Wingblad/MediaNews Group)

A trial is scheduled for two Pontiac men charged in connection with the fatal shooting of another Pontiac man – which reportedly stemmed from a spitting incident at the victim’s home.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Aug. 26 in Oakland County Circuit Court for the trials of Sadarie Deshawn Donalson, 23, and Dewaun Benion, 22, in the fatal shooting of Cornelius Jones, 33. Donaldson is charged with second-degree murder. Resisting/obstructing/assaulting a police officer and weapons offenses. Benion, his alleged accomplice, is charged with assault with intent to cause serious bodily harm, less than murder.

The shooting occurred Feb. 21 at an apartment in the 200 block of Carriage Circle Drive in Pontiac. According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses told officers that shortly before he was shot, Jones had asked Donalson and Benion to leave his house because one of them spit in his sink – which Jones described as “disrespectful.” Then Donaldson allegedly opened fire, striking Jones multiple times.

Jones died soon after at a local hospital.

Donalson and Benion fled the apartment after the shooting, the sheriff’s office said, but were subsequently arrested.

Donalson is being held in the Oakland County Jail and has been denied bail. Benion is also in jail, with bail set at $75,000 cash.

Judge Jeffery Matis will preside over the trial.

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