JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The family of 22-year-old Asia Bennett, who was shot and killed during an officer-involved shooting on August 11th, is calling for the release of body camera footage.
They’ve retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who claims witness testimony doesn’t align with the official narrative put out by JSO.
“Everyone usually gets a comeback story. We’re never gonna hear Asia’s comeback story,” said Anthony Gerhold.
Those were the emotional words of 22-year-old Asia Bennett’s uncle, who said his niece’s chance to escape an abusive relationship was cut short when she was shot and killed by a JSO officer.
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According to JSO, Bennett refused multiple commands to drop a knife she was holding and was shot twice while trying to approach an officer who had responded to a domestic call at her home.
But Crump claimed witnesses recalled hearing Bennett screaming for help when officers arrived and that the two shots were fired in quick succession.
“How do you justify the second shot when she’s on the ground, and she never gets up to her feet?” said Crump.
Crump also criticized the sheriff for highlighting Bennett’s previous arrest for domestic violence following the shooting, as court records show those charges were dropped.
Crump claimed that’s because she was determined to be the victim in that case.
Meanwhile, Bennett’s boyfriend Joshua Smith, who was there the night of the shooting, was convicted of battering Bennett last year.
“Asia wasn’t a threat. Asia was the victim. She was a victim of domestic violence,” said Crump.
When asked about the discrepancies in Bennett’s criminal history and the claims witnesses heard Bennett crying for help, JSO simply told us those questions are part of an ongoing investigation.
The family is calling for JSO to release the body camera footage of the August 11th officer-involved shooting before Bennett’s funeral on Monday.
We asked whether JSO would consider honoring that request.
“The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will release body-worn camera footage within 21 days of a critical incident, absent an investigative prohibition, in accordance with JSO policy and Sheriff Waters’ commitment to transparency,” said a JSO spokesperson in an emailed statement.
Despite Crump claiming Bennett was the victim of domestic violence on the day of the shooting, JSO confirmed her boyfriend, Smith, was not arrested that night and was listed as the victim in the incident report.
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