Video of JSO officers beating Le’Keian Woods went viral in 2023 sparking national outcry
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Le’Keian Woods, the 24-year-old Black man whose brutal beating at the hands of officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) went viral sparking a national outcry, will join his attorneys and community activists for a news conference today (Thursday, October 31) at 1:00 PM in front of the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse (300 North Hogan Street, Jacksonville, FL) in order to announce his federal lawsuit against those responsible.
Woods is represented by nationally renowned Civil Rights attorneys Harry Daniels and John Burris as well as Norman Harris. Today’s news conference will feature remarks from Woods as well as Daniels, Harris and community activists.
Video of the beating, which went viral on social media and sparked national outrage including a condemnation from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, shows uniformed and plain clothes officers with the JSO Gang Unit repeatedly assaulting Woods, striking him and slamming his head into the ground even after he is handcuffed. Woods was the passenger in a car pulled over for an alleged seatbelt violation. The incident, which occurred on September 29, 2023, bears a striking similarity to the 2019 killing of 22-year-old Jamee Johnson. Johnson was also pulled over for an alleged seat belt violation before being fatally shot by JSO officer Josue Garriga. Garriga also participated in the Woods beating and pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity in July.
Other officers involved have been the subject of multiple complaints and investigations prior to beating Woods including Hunter Sullivan who was suspended for beating a woman outside of a Jacksonville bar in 2019.
