NJ Gamer Attacks FL Man With Hammer After Online Dispute: Sheriff

FERNANDINA BEACH, FL — A video game dispute prompted a New Jersey man to travel to Florida to attack a gamer with a hammer in his own home, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said at a news conference.

Leeper accused Edward Kang, 20, of traveling Friday from Newark to Fernandina Beach in northeast Florida to attack another player with whom he had a dispute on the fantasy multiplayer game, Arceang. Kang had never met the victim in-person, Leeper said Monday.

Deputies were called to the victim's home around 2 a.m. Sunday on a physical altercation call.

Kang, who told his family he was traveling to Florida to visit a friend, was able to enter the victim's home through an unlocked door, Leeper said. Authorities did not say how Kang learned of the victim's address.

Between late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, Leeper said the victim was gaming in his bedroom when he went to use the bathroom. When he opened his room door, Leeper said Kang was standing there with a "hammer raised in the air with an anticipated strike position."

Kang wore all black, gloves and a mask, Leeper said. Both Kang and the victim began "struggling," Leeper said, and the victim took Kang to the ground.

Leeper said the victim's stepfather was awakened to someone yelling for help, and when he went to see what occurred, he found his stepson on the ground struggling with Kang and the hammer.

Kang attacked the victim, and the victim was defending himself, Leeper said. He added the stepfather was able to disarm and restrain Kang until deputies arrived.

The deputies found a significant amount of blood in the victim's bedroom, Leeper said.

Both Kang and the victim were taken to a hospital with injuries, Leeper said. Kang's injuries are unknown, but Leeper said the victim suffered non-life-threatening severe head injuries.

Kang was released into police custody, while the victim was released from the hospital, Leeper said.

Leeper said Kang arrived around 2 a.m. Friday into Fernandina Beach and was staying at a local hotel, where authorities found flight tickets and receipts for a hammer and flashlight in his room.

"Just want to let you know that this is a weird one," Leeper said. "Some things make you say, 'hmm.' Some things make you just can't make up. There's some things that make you say, 'what in the world was he thinking?' And there are some things that make you say, 'You're not going to believe this.' Well, this case makes you say all four of those."

Though Leeper said he is unsure about what transpired online between the two gamers, he said Kang told him the victim is a "bad person online" and that something occurred that made Kang want to travel to Florida to hurt the victim.

After being taken into police custody, Leeper said Kang inquired about how much jail time a person could receive for breaking and entering and assault. The sheriff added Kang is not cooperating.

Kang was charged on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary, Nassau County Jail records showed Tuesday. He is being held without bond, jail records showed.

"This incident serves a stark reminder of the ... real-world consequences of online interactions," Leeper said. "We urge the public to exercise caution, report any suspicious online behavior to the authorities and always (ensure) that their homes are securely locked."