Springfield, Illinois – A former Chicago, Illinois resident has been released after his bond was reduced in a gun case. According to detectives who were doing a background investigation on a woman who applied to become a Springfield Police Officer, they noticed that her felon boyfriend had a video on his Facebook page of him shooting a gun at a gun range.
On October 7, 2019, a Springfield Police Detective reported that Springfield Police Officers responded to the 1100 block of E. Spring St. for a dispute. When officers arrived they spoke with the resident, who is also a Springfield Police recruit, Benitta E. Gross. She told officers at the time that there was no dispute between her and her live in boyfriend, Terrance T. Elkins, age 31.
According to the detective, when officers ran Benitta and Terrance’s name over the radio to dispatch, the detective recognized Benitta’s name as a SPD recruit. The Detective noted that dispatch also advised that Benitta’s live in boyfriend, Terrance, is a prior parolee and is affiliated with the Gangster Disciples street gang out of Chicago, Illinois.
The detective then searched Facebook for Terrance’s Facebook page. At the time, Terrance’s Facebook name was “Tance Elkins.” The detective reported that he was able to identify Terrance Elkins as “Tance Elkins,” based off of Police Body Camera footage from previous police incidents that occurred between Benitta and him.
On Terrance’s Facebook page, the detective reported seeing a video uploaded on September 7, 2019. In that video, it shows Terrance shooting a gun at a gun range. The Facebook post was titled, “@the Rage” with a small icon depicting a gun and a small icon depicting a red and white circular target. The detective reported that the video appeared to have been recorded by Benitta because he could hear her voice behind the camera talking to Terrance about his shooting. At some point during the video, the detective also reported that Benitta approaches Terrance, after he finished shooting the target, and he turns and looks directly at the camera from about 1-2 feet away.
“His face is clearly visible and it is clearly Terrance Elkins. The video also clearly depicts shell casings ejecting from the semi-automatic handgun that Terrance is firing as well as loud gun shots. The video also shows Terrance looking at the bullet holes he has put in the target from close up. I recognized the range Terrance and Benitta are at as Siddens Indoor Shooting Range, located at 10775 Buckhart Road in Rochester, Illinois. I recognize it because I have been there personally and have used their facility,” the detective reported.
The detective then ran a criminal history check on Terrance and found that Terrance has the following convictions in Cook County, Illinois from 2005, 2007, 2012, and 2013: Manufacturing/Delivery of a look-alike Substance, a class 3 felony, Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a class 2 felony, Possession of a controlled substance, a class 4 felony, and Manufacturing/Deliver of a Controlled Substance, a class 1 felony.
The detective also reported that below Terrance’s Facebook Gun Range Shooting video there were Facebook comments, which read the following:
Unknown Facebook User: Next time put a hat on my boy them bitches hot
Terrance Elkins: On god I took my hat off to put the ear muffs on
Unknown Facebook User: u should’ve kept it on
Terrance Elkins: them hoes hot
Unknown Facebook User: man last time I went it pop in this girl shirt
Terrance Elkins: them joints fly everywhere
Unknown Facebook User: totally different than the streets we movin in there we in one spot
Terrance Elkins: only tho I know one thing if I was to use one ain’t no innocent person getting hit
Unknown Facebook User: yea facts I love the gun range it relax your mind
Terrance Elkins: frfr it do
The detective also reported a second set of comments under the Facebook Shooting Range video that said the following:
Unknown Facebook User: When I get free Cuz imam come show you how ta Twerk dat bih..
Terrance Elkins: Was more focused on hitting certain spots plus the owner said no Rapid fire teust me I know how put to work.
A third set of Facebook comments was between an individual who identified herself as Terrance’s Aunt and she said the following, according to the detective:
Terrance’s Aunt: Fuck the hatters nephew you hit the shoulder,at least you’re practicing on how to use a gun properly so that when need be you know how to stop a nigga.
Terrance Elkins: it just fun talk them My boys and yeah my first time there and want be my last video I’m gone show how much this Practice pay off that’s Dam good Love auntie.
Two days later, on October 9, 2019, after viewing Terrance’s Facebook page, detectives went to Siddens Indoor Shooting Range and spoke with an employee and asked if they could review their business records from September 7, 2019 (The day of the Facebook video). The employee agreed and showed the detectives the rental gun sheet which showed only Benitta’s name as renting a gun. Specifically, on the rental sheet, it showed that Benitta rented a Taurus 9 mm handgun, which is the same handgun that Terrance was seen shooting in the Facebook video.
The employee also showed detectives a form asking all patrons of the shooting range if they’re a convicted felon and do they have any current restraining orders. On Terrance’s form, he marked “yes” that he is a convicted felon, but marked “no” when asked if he has a restraining order against him. According to detectives, Terrance did have an active order of protection against him that was served in May 2019 by a Springfield Police Officer.
Detectives also spoke to Benitta regarding the incident and asked her if Terrance owns any guns? Benitta told detectives that he does not because he is a convicted felon. When detectives asked her how did she know he was a convicted felon? She told detectives that she asked him if he was a felon when they first met because she saw a tear drop tattoo on Terrance’s face. According to Benitta’s statement, she said Terrance told her he got the tattoos when he was younger and also told her that he has felony convictions for guns and drugs in Chicago. Benitta also said that her and Terrance met approximately a year ago. Detectives questioned Benitta about Terrance’s Facebook name and asked her if it was “Tance Elkins,” which she confirmed it was. When asked if her and Terrance went to Siddens gun range on September 7, 2019, she confirmed that they did. When asked what they did at the gun range, she told detectives that they shot guns there. Benitta told detectives that she rented a gun and also shot one of her own guns, a Hi-Point handgun at the range. According to detectives, Benitta confirmed that Terrance was shooting a 9mm firearm at the range and confirmed that she was making fun of his aim in one of the Facebook videos.
After the detective spoke to Benitta, he believed that Benitta violated the FOID act.
“There is a subsection of exceptions to this (FOID Act) which leads me to believe Benitta violated the FOID Act by renting firearms and knowingly allowing a convicted felon to possess and shoot them,” reported the detective.
The detective submitted the report to the Sangamon County State’s Attorneys office for review of possible charges and also reported that he would contact Illinois State Police to report the FOID violation regarding Benitta.
While the State’s Attorney’s Office was reviewing the police report for possible charges, the police was called to Benitta’s house on November 6, 2019. According to police, who responded to Benitta’s residence that day, Terrance got into an altercation with Benitta. During the argument, Terrance admitted to throwing Benitta’s $800 iPhone and breaking it. Also according to the officer’s observation, Benitta had a cut and swelling to her lower lip. Benitta told officers that the injury was a result of Terrance hitting her with his hand.
Terrance was arrested booked into the Sangamon County Jail, without bond, on pending criminal charges of criminal damage to property and domestic battery. While in custody and being held without bond, Terrance was charged the next day on November 7, 2019 with several felony charges in connection with the shooting range incident. He was charged with Armed Habitual Criminal, a class x felony, and 2 counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, a class 2 felony. His bond was set at $100,000, but he would have needed to pay 10 percent ($10,000) to be released.
On December 11, 2019, Sangamon County Public Defender, Lindsay Evans, argued for Terrance’s bond to be reduced. Despite the State’s Attorney’s objection to reduce his bond, the judge agreed to lower Terrance’s bond to $20,000, but he would only be required to pay 10 percent ($2,000) to be released.
Two days later, on December 13, 2019, Terrance posted bond in the amount of $2,000 and was released from the Sangamon County Jail.
Terrance is expected to appear back into court in March 2, 2020.
According to records, Benitta was not charged with any crimes regarding renting the gun for her boyfriend Terrance.
Springfield Leaks did ask the Springfield Police Department, through Freedom of Information Request, for documents pertaining to Benitta applying to become a Springfield Police Officer.
We were denied that information and are currently considering a request to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for review of the Springfield Police Departments refusal to turn over records pertaining to her application to become a Police Officer.