BOYNTON BEACH, Fla — A man is in jail after shooting and killing his husband, 66-year-old Benjamin Renwick in a Boynton Beach home Tuesday night, the Boynton Beach Police Department said.
The shooting happened at around 9:41 p.m. at a home on the 1000 block of Southwest 20th Street.
Boynton Beach police said they received a call, later identified to be the victim's number, and heard "moaning and the sound of a single gunshot, followed by silence," according to an arrest report.
They said two minutes later, they received a call from George Bereska Jr. saying he and his husband were in a "very bad argument." He told the dispatcher, he shot his husband in the chest, and when the dispatcher told Bereska to render aid, he said "he's dead," the arrest report said.
Boynton Beach police arrived at the home and found three shell casings and a Taurus firearm on the dining room table, the arrest report said.
According to detectives, there was no furniture displaced, no items in disarray and there were no signs of a physical altercation.
Police took Bereska to the Boynton Beach Police Department, where he told officers he had been in "a blackout since 6 p.m." and doesn't remember anything that happened, the arrest report said.
Bereska insisted that he was intoxicated, however, detectives said he showed no signs of intoxication and had no injuries to his body or blood on his clothing.
Those who knew the couple in the Boynton Leisureville neighborhood, are in disbelief.
“I’m just in total shock,” said Julie Aldrich, a friend of Renwick and Bereska.
Neighbors still trying to understand what happened to a couple who they describe as friendly and polite.
“I don’t know if it was a lover’s quarrel or was anybody intoxicated, or just knowing the facts would be helpful,” said Robin Tamburr
“Ben’s just a really good guy, I thought George was too,” said fellow American Legion member, John Harvey. A group Harvey said Renwick was very active in. "[George was] a fun loving guy that you could hear from a mile away. He was always laughing and it's not good."
Bereska, has a prior criminal record in Maryland. Bereska, was indicted by the Grand Jury for Calvert County, Maryland for second-degree sexual assault in connection with his conduct with a twelve year-old boy in June and July of 1995. Eventually pled down to a third-degree sexual offense.
Bereska was jailed and faces one count of first-degree murder with a firearm.
