On December 25, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Plant City, Florida, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Jamayais Bennett. The incident took place at approximately 9:41 p.m. in the 1300 block of Louisiana Street. According to the incident report, officers from the Plant City Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting with injuries. Upon arrival, they found Bennett clutching his chest and informing police that he had been shot.
Bennett was immediately transported to South Florida Baptist Hospital by Plant City Fire Rescue, but he succumbed to his injuries. Prior to the shooting, witnesses reported that Bennett was seen on foot in the area, talking on his cellphone, when another person approached him. The shooter, who fired multiple rounds, was described as being in a silver SUV.
The investigation revealed that there was a possible second victim. Initially, officers were unable to locate another injured person at the scene. However, on December 27, 2023, at approximately 8:05 a.m., an officer responded to the Garden of Peace Cemetery, where a cemetery employee reported finding a black male covered in blood and lying motionless near the property’s tree-line. This second victim was later identified as Zonteveon Shaw, 30, who was also deceased.
The Plant City Police Department is actively investigating these homicides, with a dedicated team of detectives working to uncover the truth. Police Chief James Bradford emphasized the department's commitment to bringing justice to the victims and their families, urging anyone with information to come forward. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the unknown suspects involved in the case.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Sergeant Gerald Baker or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), reporting online at crimestopperstb.com, or using the free Florida Crime Stoppers Mobile application. The police are relying on public assistance to solve this case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
