Couple arrested for lying about accidental shooting

A 22-year-old U.S. Navy service member from Georgia who stated he accidently shot himself in the shoulder on Nov. 20, 2019 after he initially told the Sheriff’s Office he was shot by an attempted robber, was arrested Monday for filing a false police report.

Damarcus Darnell Benjamin was charged with making a false report to law enforcement.

Also charged with the same crime was his wife: Kiana Neshell Benjamin, 22, who also initially lied to the Sheriff’s Office about the shooting. Kiana Benjamin is not in the Navy.

Damarcus Benjamin was treated and released at Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock island the night of Nov. 20 with a non-life threatening injury to his left shoulder.

Sheriff’s Office Deputy Zachary Eason, Detective Sgt. Linda Mixon and Detectives Wendy Negron and Boyd Williams responded to the hospital at approximately 8 p.m. They were met by Key West Police officers, who the hospital staff had called first.

Benjamin initially told Key West Police he was shot by a robber near the DoubleTree Grand Key Resort® on South Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West, but changed his story and stated the alleged crime occurred near the CVS Pharmacy on Stock Island. Sheriff’s Office Detectives subsequently responded to the hospital given that new alleged crime location. Key West Police stated they subsequently had officers and K9 units searching in the area of the DoubleTree they needed to call off.

Benjamin told Detective Negron he was jogging near the CVS Pharmacy on Stock Island when he was shot by an unknown white male suspect in a blue hoodie who attempted to rob him. He stated he then called his wife to pick him up and she drove him to the hospital. Benjamin’s hand tested positive for gunshot residue. Kiana Benjamin also initially stated she picked up her husband near the pharmacy after he had been shot while jogging.

Under further questioning, Benjamin eventually stated the truth was that he was playing with a handgun — twirling it with his finger — while riding as a passenger in a Jeep Cherokee® with his wife who was driving. He stated the gun accidentally went off with a bullet striking him in the left shoulder. He added he then instructed his wife to drive him to the nearest hospital.

Detective Negron then went back to Kiana who was in a separate room at the hospital and asked her again what had transpired. She continued to maintain her husband had been shot in an attempted robbery. Detective Wendy Negron asked Kiana if she wanted to speak with her husband as he wants her to tell the truth about what transpired. Damarcus subsequently told Kiana to tell Detective Negron the truth. Kiana then stated her husband was riding passenger in their vehicle when he accidentally shot himself. She stated she then drove him to the hospital.

A GLOCK® 9mm handgun and a spent 9mm casing were found in the Jeep®.

Warrants were later obtained for the arrest of both.

Both Damarcus Benjamin and Kiana Benjamin were booked into jail Monday afternoon.