JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three teenagers -- aged 13, 16, and 19-- were recently arrested and accused of participating in a downtown Jacksonville attack that left a 64-year-old man dead, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said on Friday.
Police said that on Oct. 19, officers were called to downtown Jacksonville on reports of an aggravated battery just before midnight.
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Upon arrival, officers said they found the 19-year-old suspect at Madison Street and West Adams Street.
Police said they also found the victim, Roger Borkum, “severely beaten.” He later died in the hospital from his injuries.
During an interview with police on Oct. 20, the 19-year-old told officers that Borkum was “laying” in the area before saying something to him. As the two talked back and forth, the 19-year-old said he saw Borkum fall to the ground.
He also admitted to police that he and the other two teens battered Borkum, and added that they weren’t trying to kill him. Police mention in the arrest report that up to that point, detectives hadn’t mentioned that Borkum was dead.
The 16-year-old told police during his interview that he did not know Borkum and that Borkum “disses his dead homies” before the battery took place.
Police reports also indicate that the three teens returned to Borkum’s location three times throughout the night and beat him each time.
JSO added that they were able to locate the three teens within hours of the attack due to a witness who saw the attack unfold and provided suspect descriptions to police. Following an investigation by the agency’s homicide detectives, the suspects were identified.
On Thursday, the 13-year-old was indicted by a Duval County grand jury. The 16-year-old and 19-year-old were arrested shortly after Borkum’s death and remain in custody, police said.
All three teens are facing a murder charge.
“This case is a heartbreaking reminder of how young some offenders have become and how devastating the consequences are for victims, families, and the surrounding community,“ JSO said. ”JSO will continue to work closely with the state to get justice for Mr. Borkum.”