'Selfless' Florida Sheriff's Deputy, 39, Dies of Coronavirus Just Months Before His Wedding
In the wake of his death, many of Shannon’s loved ones have expressed their heartbreak.
His brother Darren Bennett wrote several touching posts on Facebook, noting how he felt “empty,” especially because he couldn’t be by his sibling’s side in his final moments.
“Bro I’m empty and I feel like I can’t breathe…you were my twin. My ride or die! I can’t even function right now!” Darren wrote beside several photos of the pair together. “I love you sooo much man! I can’t believe I’m even posting this!”
“You fought a damn good fight and your legacy WILL LIVE ON! I got it from here bro. Deputy S Bennett take a bow,” he went on. “To everyone else…please don’t take covid19 lightly STAY AT HOME!”
“My brother…….I COULDN’T EVEN BE THERE WITH YOU!!! I would’ve never left your side. Damn COVID19!!!!” he added in another post.
Darren also shared some heartwrenching, final text message exchanges with his brother, who said he felt like his “life is almost over” and asked that his legacy of supporting his family live on if he died.
On YouTube, Shannon’s niece Jessie Bennett remembered her uncle by making an emotional video with photos and videos of the deputy.
Below Deck star Josiah Carter also expressed his devastation about the “terrible virus” taking “one of my young healthy friends” in a post on Instagram, writing, “Words really cannot describe how I feel about this news.”
“I met Shannon only 4 years ago and we instantly became friends. He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Fort Lauderdale for work,” Carter continued. “He was like a big brother to me, with no agenda just kindness and thoughtfulness, he guided me and reassured me that everything would be okay.”
“Shannon always seemed to look out for others and cared for everyone, such a selfless person,” he added.
On April 4, Shannon’s colleagues showed their respect for him by lining the streets and saluting as his body was escorted from the hospital to a local funeral home. Photographs shared by the BSO on their Facebook captured the emotional moment.
“The BSO family always stands together, bound by the service we provide to others. We thank Deputy Bennett for his service, today and always. We will never forget your sacrifice,” they wrote.
Community members also paid tribute to the fallen officer by leaving gifts and signs on Shannon’s patrol vehicle in the neighborhood where he lived “to show how much he was loved.”
“‘We wanted to share our message with everyone,’ one neighbor said. ‘He turned his lights on for our little 18-month old son one day and made him smile,'” the post read. “Rest In Peace, Deputy Bennett. Thank you for your service.”
As of Monday, there have been at least 357,036 cases and 10,522 deaths attributed to coronavirus in the United States, according to the New York Times. In Florida, at least 13,316 cases and 235 deaths have been reported, according to the outlet.
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