DeKalb teen convicted in ‘orchestrated’ plot that led to murder

Benjamin Carpenter

Benjamin Carpenter

A DeKalb County jury has convicted a Decatur teen of murder in the death of a 22-year-old Chamblee man.

Benjamin Carpenter, 19, shot Lucio “Geo” Vasquez on Aug. 11 last year outside a Lavista Road apartment complex, the district attorney’s office said.

Carpenter and co-defendant Christian Hernandez had “lured (Vasquez) there under the guise of buying drugs from him,” a news release said. “The men had actually orchestrated a plan hours earlier to rob the victim and run.”

Vasquez started to hand a bag of marijuana over, but Carpenter pulled a gun and shot him as Vasquez tried to defend himself.

He was shot in the side and the head.

Carpenter and Hernandez fled but were caught after DNA evidence linked Carpenter to the scene.

Carpenter was sentenced this week to life in prison by Judge Linda Hunter.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 30 years, with 25 years to serve.

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