In a startling case, a New Jersey man, Edward Kang, 20, flew to Florida in the middle of the night to beat his online gaming rival with a hammer, according to authorities.
Kang allegedly boarded an overnight flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Jacksonville International Airport. After landing, he checked into a hotel before arriving at the victim’s house in Fernandina Beach at 2 a.m. Sunday, armed with a hammer, officials reported.
Sheriff’s statement
“This is a weird one,” Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper remarked during a briefing on Monday. “Some things make you say hmm. Some things you just can’t make up.” Leeper expressed disbelief over the incident, noting it was one of those cases that made you question, “What in the world was he thinking?”
Incident details
The altercation stemmed from a heated exchange during a multiplayer game called ArcheAge. Kang, upset by the in-game conflict, told his mother he was visiting a friend in Florida and set off on his mission. Upon arrival, he purchased a hammer and flashlight from an Ace Hardware store before launching his attack.
Early Sunday morning, Kang, dressed in black and wearing a mask and gloves, broke into the victim’s home and attacked him with the hammer. The victim’s stepfather was awakened by screams and found his stepson struggling with Kang. The two managed to restrain Kang until police arrived.
Aftermath
The victim suffered severe but non-life-threatening head injuries. Kang is now held at Nassau County Jail on charges of attempted murder and burglary. He has not been cooperative with the police.
“When asked why he did what he did, Kang stated that he is a ‘bad person online’ and inquired about the jail time for breaking and entering and assault,” Sheriff Leeper said.
Jocelyn’s feet were also bound and her back was covered in cuts, according to KPRC.
Pena Ramos was given an ankle monitor when he was released into the US after being caught at the border in May, according to Homeland Security sources. He cut off the monitor after Jocelyn’s body was found, the source said.
Rangel Martinez crossed the border illegally at El Paso on March 14 and was also given an ankle monitor, which authorities removed in May after determining he had no known criminal history.
Pena Ramos crossed into El Paso on May 29, The Post first reported last week, telling agents he was going to live with his cousin in Houston.
Before federal authorities released him into the country, he was fitted with an ankle monitor that was set to track his location for 21 days — which he cut off two days after Jocelyn’s body was found.
“Our immigration system is broken and if there was ever a case that reflected that, it’s this one,” DA Kim Ogg said during a press conference following Pena Ramos’ Monday hearing.
Both Rangel Martinez and Pena Ramos were seen on surveillance video entering a 7-Eleven with Jocelyn the night she was killed and before the two walked her to a bridge, where her body was later found half-naked and strangled.
Jocelyn’s family said the 12-year-old snuck out of her home the night she was killed and met up with the suspects after walking out.
Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, said Monday that the killers took her daughter and all the opportunities she had ahead of her away.
“She was amazing, I still see her face in the back of my head every day, all day. I keep getting little signs about her throughout the days and it’s been a very, very hard time for me and my family,” Nungaray said.
“She had such a bright future ahead of her and I knew she was gonna go very far and these monsters took that opportunity from her, from our family.”
