Local

Persons of interest in murder of local father await extradition from Hawaii

Right now, the persons of interest in the murder of local father Leon Bennett, 23, are awaiting extradition back to Duval County.

Action News Jax was the first to alert you that Shaquille Walker, 24, and Jose Lebron, 29, surrendered in Honolulu, Hawaii on Tuesday afternoon.

Jacksonville Beach police said Bennett was shot and killed following a fight near the Pier Cantina about three weeks ago.

A former FBI agent, Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson has dealt with plenty of fugitive cases.  But even he says this one is strange.

“It’s unusual, to be sure,” Carson said.  “Clearly, something happened to make them want to do that.

Either they determined that they couldn’t get to Asia from Hawaii, or they just decided they didn’t want to be on the run anymore.”

Carson believes Walker and Lebron could be brought back within the week.

Bennett’s family said they say each passing day means they're closer to justice.

“I have confidence that this is it,” Bennett’s mother, Rhonda Kelly, said Wednesday.