Slain mother’s accused murderer had history of threats, violence

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jarvis Williams was staring down the barrel of a gun. Who could imagine that someone would be so brazen as to shoot him dead in front of his 2-year-old daughter?

“I told you I was gonna get ya,” the shooter said.

Then he pulled the trigger. He pulled it again. And again. But Benjamin “Budda” Allen’s gun jammed, according to a warrant for his arrest.

Allen is in jail where he faces second-degree murder charges for the slaying of 23-year-old Lalita “Lala” Odom. Police said Allen shot and killed Odom while their then 5-month-old child was inside a home at the Southward Village community on the 3000 block of Dora Street on June 20.

Jarvis Williams also shares a child with Odom — a 2-year-old girl, who must have also heard the gunshots that claimed her mother’s life that day.

Almost exactly one month prior, Allen almost killed her daddy, too.

Williams, who lives in Iowa, was visiting his daughter on May 19 at the Cypress Court Apartments on the 3600 block of Seminole Avenue.

That’s where Allen tried to kill him in broad daylight.

“What’s up. You got pressure?” Williams remembered Allen saying. “I told you I was gonna kill you when I saw you.”

Allen then pulled a black gun from his pants and aimed it at Williams.

Williams was so shaken, that he immediately left Fort Myers, calling Odom to tell her about the incident, records show.

Odom told him that she, too, was deathly afraid of Allen, who was her boyfriend at the time.

Almost exactly one month after Williams’ encounter with Allen, Odom was dead. Shot to death before the school day for some children in the neighborhood even began.

Williams told police he believes Allen made multiple threats to kill Odom. With his daughter’s mother dead, Williams looked to press charges against Allen. He told police he had tried to avoid confrontation by leaving Lee County, but now he feared for his daughter’s safety.

Allen was arrested on June 28 on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested him in connection to the killing of Odom on Wednesday.