It was a day she was not even scheduled to work that ended in tragedy for 25-year-old Jasmine Bennett. On May 8, 2023, the hardworking and caring Dollar Tree employee had picked up a shift for a coworker to ensure the store in Lawrence, Indiana, opened on time. Around 1:30 p.m., a former employee, 21-year-old Jalen Thomas, entered the store and began arguing with Bennett. The dispute escalated, and Thomas fatally shot her.
She was transported to a local hospital where she died from her injuries.
The conflict that led to the fatal encounter had started weeks earlier. Thomas had been fired from the store in March 2023 for alleged theft. He later returned and had a dispute with Bennett after she refused to process a merchandise exchange for him. Angered by the refusal, Thomas purchased a handgun. On the day of the shooting, he confronted Bennett again, shooting her four times, including once in the head. The incident was not a random act of violence, but an escalation of a personal grievance between two individuals who knew each other.
Shortly after the shooting, law enforcement located and arrested Jalen Thomas at his home. When his father asked what was happening, Thomas admitted on a police officer's body camera, 'I killed somebody.' During a later interview with detectives, Thomas confessed that it was his intent to kill Bennett. He also expressed remorse and stated that he did not want the possibility of parole or probation.
Jalen Thomas was preliminarily charged with murder and unlawfully carrying a handgun. In April 2025, he changed his plea to 'guilty but mentally ill.' The following month, a judge sentenced Thomas to 45 years in prison. With credit for time already served, he will spend just under 43 years incarcerated. Bennett's family, who described her as the 'glue' that held them together, was present for the court proceedings, seeking justice for the woman known for her infectious laugh and generous spirit.
