On an unfortunate night in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 24th of April in 2016, a tragic incident took the lives of two people, Reggie Coicou and Quincy Wytche. The two victims were assaulted near an Atlanta-based nightclub, resulting in their untimely demise. Reggie Coicou’s lifeless body was discovered within a Pontiac Bonneville, which had severe bullet damage. While not far off, in a nearby parking lot, a gravely wounded Quincy Wytche was found.
Wytche was rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, his life was cut short the next day due to his severe injuries. The crime scene offered important evidence to support the investigation that followed. Among the items retrieved was a .45 Colt revolver. This weapon, owned by Reggie Coicou, was traced back to him at the crime scene.
A seemingly insignificant item, a single flip-flop sandal, was also discovered at the crime scene. Eyewitness accounts from those in the nearby vicinity linked this sandal to a man of African American descent, who had been seen making a hasty escape from the scene shortly after the incident.
Delving deeper into Reggie Coicou’s background, the authorities discovered he was employed as a club bouncer and also acted as a parking lot security guard at the Blue Flame Lounge. His ownership of a licensed firearm and his role in maintaining security hint at a potential motive behind the killings. Moreover, his fascination with professional bodybuilding added to his unique profile.
Reggie’s association with the second victim, Quincy Wytche, was also apparent. The duo was frequently spotted together near the nightclub, suggesting that they shared a relationship beyond casual acquaintances. This connection led investigators to wonder if the motive for the crime was linked to their association.
A pivotal piece of evidence, the aforementioned flip-flop sandal, tied a man named Carlton Redding to the crime. Eyewitness testimonies reporting a fleeing African American male, coupled with CCTV footage, provided evidence that the sandal was, indeed, Redding’s property.
The investigators found a surveillance record of a Pontiac Bonneville at the crime scene, the same car in which Reggie Coicou’s body was found. The thorough inspection of the crispy footage established that the bullets were fired from within this car. The surveillance feed further showed Redding getting out from the driver’s side of the car and swiftly leaving the crime scene.
Upon being questioned, Carlton Redding began to unfold the events that took place on that ill-fated day. Redding accepted that on that particular day, he had received a call from Reggie Coicou, who needed a ride for purchasing marijuana. Redding was using his girlfriend’s Pontiac Bonneville to pick Coicou and Wytche up when the car was attacked.
In the freaked-out moments that followed the sudden gunfire assault, Redding admitted that it was his first instinct to escape the scene and run away. His side of the story was confirmed when investigators were able to identify an unidentified figure in the surveillance footage, which matched Redding’s account of the occurrences.
The critical breakthrough in the investigation came when authorities interrogated Quincy Wytche’s girlfriend. She disclosed the involvement of some man referred to as ‘Nick’. Delving deeper into Wytche’s personal belongings, the investigators found a contact number saved under ‘Big Nick’ on his phone, adding another vital clue to the mystery.
The rigorous investigation efforts paid off as ‘Big Nick’ was later identified as Nicholas Benton. Additional evidence gathered via car records and CCTV footage placed him at the crime scene during the incident. His involvement in the crime was thus confirmed.
Nicholas Benton was apprehilated on the 6th of June, 2016, for the heinous murders of Reggie Coicou and Quincy Wytche. Almost a year later, on July 14, 2017, Benton was convicted for several criminal offenses, primarily including murder and attempted robbery.
The tragic episode concluded with Benton receiving a life sentence in prison, paying the price for the lives he brutally took. Even though justice was served, the affliction and loss suffered by the families and friends of Reggie Coicou and Quincy Wytche continue, a bitter reminder of the violent episode they were a part of.