Civil rights attorney Ben Crump says new evidence in the shooting of 22-year-old Asia Bennett shows the domestic violence victim was on her hands and knees when a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer fired the second of two shots, striking her in the back. Crump, who represents Bennett’s family, shared the findings Friday as relatives renewed their call for accountability in her Aug. 11 death.
An embalmer’s report reviewed by the family’s legal team indicates the second bullet entered the middle of Bennett’s back and exited through the right side of her body on a downward trajectory. Crump said the wound pattern shows Bennett was facing away from the officer and crouched on her hands and knees when she was shot a second time.
Body-camera footage released by JSO shows Bennett coming outside after telling the responding officer that her boyfriend had beaten her. The officer ordered Bennett to drop the items in her hands. Bennett dropped some of them but continued holding a kitchen knife as the officer repeatedly ordered her to drop it.
The officer fired once, and Bennett fell to the ground. The footage shows officers continuing to order her to drop the knife before a second shot was fired. JSO previously said Bennett tried to get back up and move toward Officer Erin Gaitten with the knife, prompting the second shot.
Crump disputes that account, arguing that the new wound information raises questions about whether Bennett posed an imminent threat when the second shot was fired. He also stressed that the findings come from an embalmer’s report, while the family is still seeking the full medical examiner’s report.
The family has also asked JSO to release unedited body-camera footage from both officers who were at the scene. The State Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation into the fatal JSO shooting, while JSO has said it will conduct its own review after that process is complete.
The shooting remains under review, with the family continuing to push for the officer to be held accountable.
