In the pre-dawn hours of August 11, 2017, the life of 21-year-old JaJuan Benavides was tragically cut short on Anson Street in Derby, Connecticut. Police responded to reports of shots fired just before 2 a.m. and found that Benavides, a male from Naugatuck, had been shot multiple times. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
In the hours leading up to his death, Benavides had expressed concern to a friend, stating he was carrying a handgun to "watch his back" due to issues with some "Ansonia people."
The initial investigation into Benavides's death proved challenging for law enforcement. Although more than a dozen people were at the scene when police arrived, witnesses were reluctant to cooperate. Despite identifying a suspect within hours, the case went cold for a period due to a lack of sufficient evidence for an arrest warrant. Investigators knew that an individual dressed in all black and wearing a mask had chased Benavides down Anson Street, from Sixth Street toward Fourth Street, before shooting him three times. Witnesses reported that Benavides had shouted "Chill!" repeatedly as he ran. He had attempted to defend himself, but the gun he was carrying for protection jammed after he fired a single shot.
A break in the case came from a jailhouse informant who provided crucial details about the murder. This information, combined with surveillance video footage, cellular data, and physical evidence, allowed police to finally move forward. In October 2020, authorities announced arrests in connection with the three-year-old case. Jacob "Jewla" Freeman, of Ansonia, was identified as the shooter, and Rhameir Bush, of Bridgeport, was charged with acting as the lookout and getaway driver. Police believe the two men had a dispute with Benavides earlier that night and returned in a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Bush allegedly dropped Freeman off, who then concealed himself before ambushing Benavides as he sat on a stoop with a group of people.
After years of legal proceedings, Jacob Freeman was convicted of murder by a jury in June 2024. Evidence presented at his trial included testimony from a jailhouse witness who recounted Freeman's detailed confession. The witness stated Freeman admitted to returning to Anson Street wearing a mask, shooting Benavides, and standing over him to "let him have it." Prosecutors also presented a rap video Freeman had posted on YouTube a month after the killing, which contained lyrics and gestures alluding to the crime. In September 2024, Freeman was sentenced to 48 years in prison, followed by five years of special parole. His accomplice, Rhameir Bush, later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for his role in the fatal shooting.
