The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office shared details of an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead on May 14. The incident, which took place on Lenox Avenue, involved 44-year-old Calixto Benvenutti. A social media post and video from the Sheriff's Office contain footage of the event, which the office warns is graphic. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the incident began the previous evening, around 8:20 p.m., when patrol officers responded to reports of Benvenutti firing a gun. Once on the scene, they observed Benvenutti armed on the porch of a trailer, who then retreated inside.
Following an arrest warrant, SWAT officers arrived and attempted to negotiate with Benvenutti to surrender unarmed. He subsequently emerged from the trailer with a weapon, fired once into the ground, and returned inside. The standoff continued into the early hours. Eventually, Benvenutti emerged with a large stick and later drew a concealed gun, prompting three SWAT officers to fire their rifles and fatally strike him.
The officers provided emergency medical aid, but Benvenutti was pronounced dead at the scene. "The State Attorney’s Office will independently review the incident to assess the legality of the officers’ actions," the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office stated. An internal JSO review and a Response to Resistance Board will follow, submitting their findings for final assessment.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office encourages public patience as the investigative process unfolds and emphasizes their commitment to public transparency. Details regarding any changes in police protocols or findings from the reviews have not yet been disclosed. Officials from the Sheriff's Office assert that "JSO is releasing this in the interest of transparency" and that updates will follow as the several reviews progress. More details should be available upon their completion.
