Arrest made in killing of Fort Myers mother

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A 21-year-old man is facing charges in the slaying of a young mother, Fort Myers police said Wednesday.

Benjamin Allen, who is listed as homeless, is accused of killing 23-year-old Lalita “Lala” Odom, the mother of his child, police said.

Allen is facing charges for second-degree murder and possessing a weapon.

Odom was shot and killed behind a home on the 3000 block of Dora Street in June. Her 5-month-old and 2-year-old children were inside the home during the time of the shooting.

Odom’s family members were vocal in their pleas for witnesses to come forward, saying they believed her boyfriend was responsible for her death.

“We always heard bad things. We always heard what type of guy he was,” Odom’s brother Cornelius said in June.

It was not immediately clear if Allen was Odom’s boyfriend.

Witnesses said they saw two people fighting on Dora Street before a gun was pulled.

“I heard this screaming saying ‘No, no, no’ and she’s fighting,” one woman said.  “I look like this and they’re fighting. They’re fighting and then I see this dude — this boy — he shot… And I said ‘No, he’s shooting the lady! He’s shooting the lady!”