Newly released body-worn camera footage shows 22-year-old Asia Bennett holding what authorities identified as a large kitchen knife during an Aug. 11 encounter with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers that ended with Bennett being shot twice and later dying at a hospital. pic.twitter.com/VJl5wTk2EI
— Dominick Izzo (@CopTalkLIVE) August 31, 2026
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Newly released body-worn camera footage shows 22-year-old Asia Bennett holding what authorities identified as a large kitchen knife during an Aug. 11 encounter with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers that ended with Bennett being shot twice and later dying at a hospital.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released its critical incident briefing and video on Aug. 26, describing the information surrounding the shooting as preliminary. JSO’s public officer-involved shooting database identifies Officer Erin J. Gaitten as the officer involved and lists the original incident as a domestic battery call at the 1000 block of Westdale Drive.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Bennett’s family, has disputed JSO’s characterization of the shooting and described the released footage as showing an unjustified use of deadly force. The shooting remains under official review, and no final determination has been made regarding whether Gaitten’s use of force was legally justified or complied with JSO policy.
Officers Respond to Reported Domestic Battery
According to JSO and reporting provided to CopTalkLIVE, officers were dispatched to a home on Westdale Drive near Pine Bluff Drive at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Aug. 11 following a reported battery with injuries.
A man at the residence, identified in reporting as Bennett’s boyfriend, told police that Bennett had battered him and was inside the residence armed with a knife.
JSO said officers observed what the agency described as minor physical injuries on the man.
While Gaitten was speaking with him, Bennett exited the residence.
According to JSO, Gaitten observed Bennett carrying multiple objects, including what the agency described as a large butcher-style kitchen knife.
The officer drew her firearm and repeatedly ordered Bennett to drop the items.
Subscribe on YouTube and join thousands of officers, attorneys, and citizens who follow Cop Talk LIVE for fact-based analysis—not headlines.
▶ Subscribe Here: https://www.youtube.com/@CopTalkLIVE
Body Camera Records Bennett Alleging She Had Been Beaten
During the encounter, Bennett can be heard telling Gaitten that the man had beaten her.
According to the released footage and reporting describing it, Bennett initially dropped some of the objects in her hands but continued holding what appeared to be a knife along with a phone.
Gaitten continued directing Bennett to put the knife down.
Bennett made several statements indicating that she wanted the officer to shoot her, including telling Gaitten to kill her.
The body-camera footage also records Bennett repeatedly alleging that the man had assaulted her.
Bennett’s family has maintained that she was a victim of domestic violence. Her mother, Crissy Duncan, previously told News4JAX that she believed police should have been helping her daughter and described Bennett as nonviolent. Those statements represent the family’s account and do not constitute an official finding regarding the events preceding the police response.
First Shot Fired During Confrontation
JSO said Bennett was approximately 10 feet from Gaitten during part of the confrontation and that Bennett advanced toward the officer while still armed with the knife.
Gaitten fired once, striking Bennett.
The precise movement immediately preceding the first shot has become a central point of disagreement between JSO and attorneys representing Bennett’s family.
JSO maintains that Bennett advanced toward the officer while armed. Crump disputes that characterization and has argued that the distance between Bennett and the officers did not justify deadly force.
No independent adjudication has yet determined which characterization of the shooting should control a legal or administrative assessment of Gaitten’s actions.
Bennett Remained Armed After First Shot, Video Shows
After the first shot, Bennett fell to the ground.
The footage shows officers continuing to order her to release the knife as Bennett moved on the ground. Bennett can also be heard saying that she wanted to die.
According to JSO, Bennett then attempted to rise while still possessing the knife.
Video described by News4JAX shows Bennett moving from the ground onto her knees and elbows.
At one point, Bennett placed the knife down and pointed toward the man while again accusing him of assaulting her. She subsequently picked the knife back up despite additional commands from officers to leave it on the ground.
An officer can be heard telling Bennett to drop the knife so officers could provide medical assistance.
Gaitten then fired a second shot.
Bennett was transported to a hospital, where she died.
Ben Crump Challenges Both Shootings
Crump has publicly disputed JSO’s justification for the shooting.
Following release of the body-camera footage, Crump said Bennett was not close enough to the officers to justify shooting her and argued that Gaitten had sufficient distance and time to use alternatives to deadly force.
Crump’s office described Bennett as a 22-year-old, approximately 110-pound domestic violence victim and characterized the shooting as “horrific and unjustified.”
During a subsequent news conference with Bennett’s relatives, Crump specifically challenged the second gunshot. Action News Jax reported that Crump described the second shot as “criminal.” That statement reflects Crump’s legal position on behalf of Bennett’s family; authorities have not made a criminal finding against Gaitten in connection with the shooting.
Family members also presented photographs they said showed injuries Bennett suffered from previous domestic abuse. The existence or cause of those injuries has not been independently adjudicated as part of the officer-involved shooting investigation.
CLICK HERE to get your copy of
JSO Says Investigation Remains Ongoing
Following Crump’s criticism of the shooting, JSO told News4JAX that the agency had released as much information as possible while the investigation remains active and declined additional substantive comment because of anticipated litigation.
JSO released its critical incident briefing on Aug. 26, 15 days after the Aug. 11 shooting. The agency characterized the information contained in that release as preliminary.
JSO’s transparency policy provides for public release of information concerning officer-involved shootings, including body-worn camera footage and subsequent review information.
Current Status
As of Aug. 31, 2026, JSO’s official officer-involved shooting database identifies the case as RTR26-0024 and lists its status as Pending State Attorney Review.
The agency’s database currently lists:
- Date: Aug. 11, 2026
- Incident number: 2026-0475045
- Original incident type: Domestic Battery
- Location: 1000 Westdale Drive, Jacksonville
- Response-to-Resistance case: RTR26-0024
- Officer: Erin J. Gaitten
- Subject: Asia Marie Bennett, 22
- Weapon classification: Knife / cutting instrument
- Fatality: Yes
- State Attorney review: Pending
- JSO policy determination: Pending
- Additional training determination: Pending
- Internal Affairs referral determination: Pending
JSO explains that officer-involved shootings are first reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified under state law. After that review is completed, JSO conducts an administrative review to determine whether the force complied with department policy and training.
Accordingly, no final government finding regarding the legality or departmental compliance of Gaitten’s use of deadly force has been published as of Aug. 31.
Key Issues Under Review
The released footage and competing accounts raise several factual questions that investigators and reviewing authorities may consider, including:
- Bennett’s location and movement immediately before the first shot.
- The distance between Bennett and Gaitten when each shot was fired.
- Bennett’s continued possession and handling of the knife after the first shot.
- The circumstances immediately preceding the second shot.
- Whether the use of deadly force complied with Florida law.
- Whether Gaitten’s actions complied with JSO policy and training.
The existence of body-camera footage does not itself resolve the legal question of whether a police shooting was justified. That determination remains subject to the applicable investigative, prosecutorial and administrative review processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Asia Bennett?
Asia Marie Bennett was a 22-year-old Jacksonville woman who was fatally shot by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer on Aug. 11, 2026.
Why were officers at the residence?
According to JSO, officers were dispatched to investigate a reported domestic battery with injuries. A man at the residence told police Bennett had battered him and was inside armed with a knife.
Bennett subsequently told police during the recorded encounter that the man had beaten her.
Was Bennett armed?
The body-camera footage shows Bennett holding an object identified by JSO as a large kitchen knife. JSO’s official shooting database classifies the weapon involved as a knife or cutting instrument.
Did officers tell Bennett to drop the knife?
Yes. The footage records repeated commands for Bennett to drop the knife both before and after the first gunshot.
Why did the officer shoot Bennett the first time?
JSO maintains that Bennett advanced toward Gaitten while holding the knife. Attorneys representing Bennett’s family dispute that the circumstances justified deadly force.
The State Attorney’s Office has not yet issued its final determination.
Why was Bennett shot a second time?
JSO has said Bennett was attempting to get back up while still armed with the knife. Crump has sharply disputed the justification for the second shot.
The legal and administrative reviews remain pending.
Has Officer Erin Gaitten been found to have violated the law or JSO policy?
No such finding has been publicly reported. As of Aug. 31, the State Attorney review and JSO administrative determinations remain pending.
Is Bennett’s family taking legal action?
Bennett’s family is represented by Ben Crump and his legal team, which has publicly challenged the shooting and indicated litigation is anticipated. JSO has also cited anticipated litigation in declining further substantive public comment.
Representation by an attorney or statements concerning possible litigation do not establish liability or wrongdoing.
🚔 JOIN US FOR ROLL CALL
On the first Sunday of every month, Cop Talk LIVE Patreon members meet for an exclusive members-only Roll Call — real conversation, direct access, and discussion you won’t get anywhere else.
👉 CLICK Cop Talk LIVE Patreon today and be part of the next Roll Call.
About The Author
Discover more from Cop Talk LIVE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
