The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office told Action News Jax it has apprehended a suspect in connection to an attack on Jacksonville’s Westside.
The suspect is accused of severely beating a man with a metal pipe and taking off with the man's car.
Action News Jax is working to learn if the suspect has been questioned, remains detained and is facing any charges.
The attack happened Tuesday morning. The Sheriff’s Office responded around 6:15 a.m.
Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole spent the day near the location of the incident, on Retaw Street. She spoke exclusively to the neighbor who helped the victim.
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"At about 6:30 this morning, I was in bed asleep and one of my roommates come banging on the door, you know? 'Call 911! Call 911!'"
The neighbor who called for help lives near the intersection of Retaw Street and Colonial Avenue, where the Sheriff's Office said a 40-year-old man was badly beaten with a metal pipe on Tuesday morning.
The neighbor did not want to show his face or give his name.
On @ActionNewsJax at 5:00, I spoke to the neighbor who helped the victim who’s car was stolen after he was beaten w/a pipe on Jacksonville’s Westside this morning. #NEWINFORMATION : In the last 25 min. I learned JSO has apprehended a suspect in this case. pic.twitter.com/QbWcGbEdOs
— Courtney Cole (@CourtneyANJax) December 4, 2018
He told Action News Jax one of his roommates thought the victim had been shot.
"We called 911 but he was out there in the middle of the street, just covered in blood. He was really kind of out of it. But he just kept saying, repeating again, ‘Somebody help me, Somebody help me. somebody help me.’"
#NEXT on @ActionNewsJax at 5:00: "At about 6:30 this morning, I was in bed asleep & one of my roommates come banging on the door, you know? Call 911!" I spoke exclusively to the neighbor who helped the victim beaten w/a metal pipe on Jax's Westside. What he believes led to this: pic.twitter.com/DoproNQmGD
— Courtney Cole (@CourtneyANJax) December 4, 2018
The suspect took off in the victim’s car.
The victim was left lying outside the neighbor's home on Retaw Street.
“That’s just wrong. To put somebody out in the street like that, that’s horrible. To drive off in his own car, at that, that’s even worse, “ the neighbor said.
JSO found the car not too far from the scene.
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While we’re waiting to learn more from JSO about the motive behind the crime, the neighbor told us he doesn’t think this attack was random.
“As far as what we kinda pieced together was: He was hanging out with some girl and I guess it was her crazy ex. I mean, I know the guy, and he’s out there.”
Two other women were with the victim in the car, but police said they're OK.
The Sheriff’s Office said this a "relatively quiet" area, in terms of crime.
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Some neighbors Cole spoke to, off-camera, say they've heard about some home break-ins and usually ask a neighbor to keep an eye on their home when they're out of town.
According to the Sheriffs Office crime mapping tool, 88 vehicle thefts and 43 robberies have happened within a 2-mile radius of the scene since June 7.
As we learn more about the suspect, we’ll continue to update this story.
Cox Media Group
