A New Jersey man who police say flew to Florida and attacked a fellow gamer with a hammer during an online dispute was charged Sunday with attempted second-degree murder.
Edward Kang, 20, of New Jersey, was arrested early Sunday morning after he arrived at a fellow gamer’s home around 2 a.m. the same day and attacked the victim with a hammer, Nassau County, Fla., Sheriff Bill Leeper said. ., said at one News conference on Monday.
Sheriff Leeper, Mr. Kang said he had never met the gamer he attacked in person, but they knew each other through playing a fictional online game called ArcheAge. In a mythical world. An arrest report of Mr. The victim of Kong’s attack was identified as Zachary Tin, who declined to comment Tuesday.
Mr. It is not clear what communication between Kong and Mr Din online. Sheriff Leeper said the episode “stemmed from an online conflict.”
Sheriff Leaper says that in ArchAge you can create characters that fight and kill each other.
“I don’t know what happened between the victim and the suspect, but something about the suspect wanting to come to Florida and hurt the other person,” he said.
ArcheAge will be closed to users in Europe and North America on Friday The game’s website. The game’s makers cited declining player numbers in a statement from April.
Due to severe head injury, Mr. Tinn was treated at a hospital and released, Sheriff Leeper said.
In addition to the charge of attempted murder, Mr. Kang was charged with armed robbery. Injured Mr. Kang received medical treatment and was taken to the Nassau County Jail in Eulie, Fla., where he is being held without bond.
In the arrest records Mr. No attorney was listed for Kang. A call to his family was not returned Tuesday afternoon.
An online dispute turned into an attempted-murder case, raising eyebrows for local law enforcement, the sheriff said.
“It’s a weird one,” Sheriff Leeper said during a news conference. “There are some things that make you say, ‘Hmm.’ All four of those are telling.
Mr. Kang flew from Newark Liberty International Airport to Jacksonville International Airport and checked into a hotel in Fernandina Beach, Fla., on Friday, Sheriff Leeper said. He said he was visiting an old friend in Florida. Sheriff Leeper said Kang told his family.
At some point over the weekend, Mr. Kang went to a hardware store in the area and bought a hammer and a flashlight, Sheriff Leeper said. Receipts for the items were later found in his hotel room.
Mr. in Fernandina Beach early Sunday morning. On reaching Dinin’s house, Mr. Kang was dressed in black with gloves and a mask, Sheriff Leeper said. A door was not opened and Mr. Kang was able to enter the house, he said.
Once inside, Mr. Kang found Mr. Dinh and began hitting him with a hammer, Sheriff Leeper said.
According to the arrest report, Mr. Din’s stepfather woke him up screaming for help in the middle of the night.
“When he went to see what was going on, he found his stepson on the ground struggling with his assailant,” said Sheriff Leeper.
Mr. Tin and his stepfather Mr. Kang was subdued and able to control him until police arrived, Sheriff Leeper said.
Mr. After Kang was taken into custody, he was allowed to call his mother, according to the arrest report. During the phone call, which was recorded and later translated from Korean to English, Mr. Kong acknowledged the attack, and Mr. The arrest report states that he told his mother that he did not plan to kill Millet.
While in custody, Mr Kang was asked by a police deputy why he attacked Mr Tin, according to the arrest report.
Mr. “He’s a nasty person online,” Kang told police.
Kirsten Noyes Research contributed.
