Orlando police have taken three more individuals into custody in relation to the fatal shooting that occurred on May 20 on Harbour Road near Chesapeake Avenue. The arrests, announced Thursday, include 37‑year‑old Susan Holloway and sisters Jessica Bennett, 36, and Jennifer Bennett, 38.
Details of the incident
Officers responded to a report of gunfire at approximately 7 p.m. on May 20. They found a vehicle that had collided with a tree in front of a residence. Inside the vehicle was Daryl Willis Jr., who had been shot and later died at a hospital.
Joseph Petrus, 41, was apprehended shortly after the shooting when he attempted to flee the scene in another vehicle. He remains in jail facing first‑degree murder charges.
Alleged motive and investigation
Detectives say the shooting stemmed from a dispute over property that Willis allegedly stole from the mother of Jessica and Jennifer Bennett the night before the incident. According to the police release, Willis agreed to return the property and returned to the residence the following day.
Investigators allege that Jessica Bennett, Jennifer Bennett, Susan Holloway, and Joseph Petrus conspired to recover the property. As Willis attempted to drive away, Petrus allegedly opened fire, striking Willis.
Additional actions after the shooting
Police reports state that after the shooting, Jessica Bennett and Susan Holloway drove to the crash site to retrieve the property from Willis’s vehicle. Jennifer Bennett is accused of tampering with evidence following the incident.
Holloway faces charges of burglary of an occupied conveyance and tampering with physical evidence. The Bennett sisters are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a firearm or other deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence; Jessica Bennett also faces a burglary charge.
Legal proceedings
All four suspects remain in custody pending further court action. The Orlando Police Department continues to investigate the case and has asked the public to contact them with any additional information.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about property disputes escalating to violence and the importance of swift law‑enforcement response to protect community safety.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
