A man is in custody facing attempted second-degree murder charges after allegedly attacking another person with a hammer, police announced on Monday.
Edward Kang, 20, allegedly flew from Newark, New Jersey, to Jacksonville, Florida, to confront an unnamed victim following a dispute in the online fantasy video game ArcheAge, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper revealed during a news conference.
“This is a strange case,” Leeper said. “Some things make you say ‘Hmm.’ Some things, you just can’t make up. There are 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.’ This case makes you say all four of those.”
Leeper explained that Kang traveled from Newark Liberty International Airport to Jacksonville International Airport and stayed at the Ocean Coast Hotel in Fernandina Beach since Friday. In Florida, Kang purchased a hammer and flashlight from an Ace Hardware, with receipts for these items found in his hotel room.
According to Leeper, Kang gained entry to the victim’s home in Fernandina Beach through an unlocked front door. Dressed in all-black clothing, gloves, and a mask, Kang attacked the victim, leading to a struggle on the ground.
The victim’s stepfather, awakened by his stepson’s screams for help, called the deputies. He found his stepson grappling with Kang on the floor.
Police discovered a “significant amount of blood” in the home’s entryway and the victim’s bedroom, Leeper said. Both Kang and the victim were taken to a local hospital. The victim suffered “severe head wounds,” which were not life-threatening, and has since been released. Kang was released into the custody of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
Kang allegedly told a deputy that the victim is “a bad person online,” and inquired about the potential jail time for breaking, entering, and assault.
“I would say, ‘Mr. Kang, it’s going to be a long time before you play video games again,'” Leeper remarked.
Kang is not cooperating with the investigation and remains in the Nassau County Jail. Jail records indicate that Kang has also been charged with armed burglary in addition to attempted second-degree murder, both felony charges.
Leeper emphasized that this incident highlights how online disputes can escalate into real-world violence, urging people to exercise caution online, report suspicious behavior, and keep their homes securely locked.
