District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Elijah Bennett, 19, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 20 years in prison today followed by five years on probation after pleading guilty to one count of Armed Robbery, two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony. The charges stem from two separate incidents, and the 20 years will have to be served in full. Elijah Bennett is an identified member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang.
The first incident occurred on October 15, 2020, at approximately 5 pm, when Brunswick Police were called to a residence on Amherst St. in Brunswick, concerning an aggravated assault. There police learned that Keijuan Smith was in front of his house when Marcus Carmena approached him with a handgun and struck him in the head with it. Carmena then left in a vehicle. Later, at approximately 10:30 pm, Rebecca Easlic reported to police that her Range Rover was stolen from Stonewall Street in Brunswick. Then, just after midnight, Brunswick police responded to a shots fired call at the same Amherst Street residence where the assault had occurred earlier. Keijuan Smith and his father were outside talking when the stolen Range Rover circled the area and stopped at the corner. Keijuan and his father ran into their home. Elijah Bennett got out of the vehicle with a Draco AK47 pistol and opened fire on the house. No one was injured and the shooting was captured on video. Later police were provided screen shots from Marcus Carmena’s Snapchat account that showed both he and Bennett in the stolen Range Rover and Bennett brandishing the Draco AK47. When interviewed by police, Bennett made various incriminating statements to the shooting.
In the second incident, which occurred on October 30, 2022, at approximately 3:45 am, Brian Gardner had his Toyota Corolla stolen from him at gunpoint in Arbery Park in Brunswick. Gardner and a female acquaintance told Glynn County police that they had gone to a party in McIntosh County earlier in the evening and returned to Brunswick and decided they wanted to smoke some marijuana. They got in contact with Elijah Bennett and his younger brother Ezeere. Elijah and Ezeere then went with Gardner and the female to the park to smoke. Elijah had earlier told the female that he and his brother planned on robbing Gardner but she was afraid to say anything because both men were armed. After about an hour at the park, both Elijah and Ezeere pointed handguns at Gardner and told him to get out of the car. They then left in Gardner’s car. Elijah Bennett later posted photographs on his Instagram account of him posing with a handgun and Gardner’s clothing that had been in his vehicle.
Both Bennett brothers were later arrested at their home and were found to be in possession of Gardner’s clothing, credit cards and driver’s license.
Elijah and Ezeere Bennett are also the younger brothers of Ethan and Everett Bennett, who were both convicted at separate Glynn County Superior Court trials in 2022 for the 2019 murder of Antonio Randolph.
Elijah Bennett was sentenced in Glynn County Superior Court by Judge Stephen G. Scarlett, Sr. There is an outstanding warrant for the arrest of Ezeere Bennett. If any members of the public have information on the whereabouts of Ezeere Bennett, please contact law enforcement.
Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.
