The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is releasing details and video from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Westdale Drive on August 11, 2026. The details below are preliminary.
The incident resulted in the death of 22-year-old Asia Bennett. Had she survived her injuries, she would have been arrested for Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Domestic Battery.
At 10:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to a home on Westdale Drive after a victim reported Bennett had battered him. The victim was in a domestic relationship with Bennett. Officers arrived on scene three minutes after the emergency call was placed, and the victim met the officers outside. He said Bennett was inside the home armed with a knife.
While Officer Gaitten was speaking with the victim, Bennett came out the front door. Officer Gaitten saw Bennett with multiple items in her hands, including a large butcher-style kitchen knife. The officer unholstered her gun and pointed it at Bennett. She yelled at Bennett multiple times to drop all the items in her hands. Instead, Bennett dropped some items while still holding onto the large knife. Bennett then advanced on the officer, yelling at her. When the armed Bennett was within approximately 10 feet of the officer, the officer fired her weapon, striking Bennett.
Bennett fell to the ground, but she continued to hold onto the knife. Bennett tried to get up with the knife, and the officer fired a second shot. Bennett then let go of the knife, and officers were able to handcuff her. Paramedics were already on scene, and they provided emergency medical aid before Bennett was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The State Attorney’s Office will independently review the incident to assess the legality of the officer’s actions. JSO will then conduct an internal review to ensure the officer acted within policy. Conclusions remain pending.
*Viewer discretion is advised: the videos are graphic.* This video contains discussions of true crime events that may be disturbing to some viewers. It is intended for mature audiences and for educational purposes only. Viewer discretion is advised. The content is presented in a storytelling style and does not promote violence or harm.
To watch the Critical Incident Briefing on JSO's social media platforms, click on one of the following links:
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Information, as it becomes available regarding this Officer-Involved Shooting, will be posted on
JSO's Transparency page.
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