Brian Benedict
IRVINE -- A UCI graduate student has been charged with murder after police say he shot his ex-wife during an on-campus argument over custody of the couple's four-year-old son.
Brian Hughes Benedict, 35, did not enter a plea during the hearing at the Newport Beach courthouse because his attorney is out of the country, said Michael Jacobs, who appeared on behalf of Benedict's lawyer, Ron Cordova.
The arraignment was continued to Oct. 2.
Benedict is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for personally discharging a firearm and causing death.
He faces up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted, according to Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
The shooting took place around 7:00 p.m. Sunday in the 4200 block of Verano Place in Irvine, said Lt. John Hare of the Irvine Police Department. It is the first such death ever reported on the campus.
The victim, 30-year-old Rebecca Benedict was on campus to pick up the child when the arguing began., Hare said.
Brian Benedict grew angry when she arrived and swung a hammer at her while their son looked on, Emami said.
Rebecca Benedict ran away, but Brian Benedict chased her with the gun and shot at her several times, hitting her at least once, Emami said.
Brian Benedict ran back to his apartment, got his son and tried to put him in his car, but witnesses and neighbors restrained him until police arrived, Emami said.
Officials say Rebecca Benedict had full custody of the couple's son, a four-year-old boy.
Police say Benedict, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate doing doctoral work in particle physics, walked up behind Rebecca as she headed toward the parking lot and fired several shots with a handgun, hitting her at least once.
UCI police responded about one minute after receiving a 911 call and were able to arrest Brian Benedict without incident, authorities said.
The gun used in the shooting has been recovered.
Brian Benedict remained jailed Monday in lieu of $1 million bail.
Rebecca Benedict was taken to an area hospital where she later died, said Hare.
A grandparent is reportedly caring for the child.
Police said Brian Benedict approached UCI police a little more than a week ago to ask about child custody.
"I don't know exactly what he asked," Hutchinson said, adding that the conversation lasted less than 10 minutes and that the suspect did not appear to be acting unusually.
UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake said that "despite this isolated incident, UC Irvine is a very safe campus and we will continues to do everything in our power to keep it that way."
On Thursday, a judge issued a ruling in their divorce case that ordered him to pay double the original child support based on income records.
Verano Place, where the shooting occurred, is a graduate and family student housing community near the UC Irvine Campus.
Brian Hughes Benedict, 35, did not enter a plea during the hearing at the Newport Beach courthouse because his attorney is out of the country, said Michael Jacobs, who appeared on behalf of Benedict's lawyer, Ron Cordova.
The arraignment was continued to Oct. 2.
Benedict is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for personally discharging a firearm and causing death.
He faces up to 50 years to life in prison if convicted, according to Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
The shooting took place around 7:00 p.m. Sunday in the 4200 block of Verano Place in Irvine, said Lt. John Hare of the Irvine Police Department. It is the first such death ever reported on the campus.
The victim, 30-year-old Rebecca Benedict was on campus to pick up the child when the arguing began., Hare said.
Brian Benedict grew angry when she arrived and swung a hammer at her while their son looked on, Emami said.
Rebecca Benedict ran away, but Brian Benedict chased her with the gun and shot at her several times, hitting her at least once, Emami said.
Brian Benedict ran back to his apartment, got his son and tried to put him in his car, but witnesses and neighbors restrained him until police arrived, Emami said.
Officials say Rebecca Benedict had full custody of the couple's son, a four-year-old boy.
Police say Benedict, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate doing doctoral work in particle physics, walked up behind Rebecca as she headed toward the parking lot and fired several shots with a handgun, hitting her at least once.
UCI police responded about one minute after receiving a 911 call and were able to arrest Brian Benedict without incident, authorities said.
The gun used in the shooting has been recovered.
Brian Benedict remained jailed Monday in lieu of $1 million bail.
Rebecca Benedict was taken to an area hospital where she later died, said Hare.
A grandparent is reportedly caring for the child.
Police said Brian Benedict approached UCI police a little more than a week ago to ask about child custody.
"I don't know exactly what he asked," Hutchinson said, adding that the conversation lasted less than 10 minutes and that the suspect did not appear to be acting unusually.
UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake said that "despite this isolated incident, UC Irvine is a very safe campus and we will continues to do everything in our power to keep it that way."
On Thursday, a judge issued a ruling in their divorce case that ordered him to pay double the original child support based on income records.
Verano Place, where the shooting occurred, is a graduate and family student housing community near the UC Irvine Campus.
