Florida man Jermaine Adrian Bennett, 26, is in the Pinellas County jail charged with first degree murder in the attack and tire iron beating death of 49 year old bicyclist Jeffrey Chapman in Clearwater, Florida.
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During a press conference, Clearwater Police Chief Michael Walek stated that they received a 911 call refence a man down. Officers responded and Chapmans body was found around 12:30 am on Mandalay Avenue in Clearwater. Walek stated this case was “very heinous and very violent,” and that Chapman was struck with a tire iron over 10 times. Chapman appears to have been picked at random and was not specifically targeted for attack. Chapman was an avid cyclist and resident of the Clearwater beach area who bicycled around the neighborhood daily. His body was found approximately a mile from his condominium.
Tampa man 'showed no remorse' after allegedly killing Clearwater bicyclist with tire iron, police say https://t.co/CWxBuplXHs
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 23, 2022
Clearwater Beach bicyclist bludgeoned to death with tire iron, police say https://t.co/xgf92BneZI
— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) October 22, 2022
‘Very Heinous and Very Violent’: Beloved Florida Bicyclist Dad Randomly Attacked and Beaten to Death with Tire Iron https://t.co/SITqlfNfgj via @crimeonlinenews
— Nancy Grace (@NancyGrace) October 23, 2022
According to Chief Walek.
“It was a chance encounter that turned deadly while the victim was simply trying to ride his bike home”
Police arrested Bennett at his job in nearby Wesley Chapel, were he bragged to police he was expecting them to come to his work and arrest him after the attack.
Chief Walek stated ‘He even said, in fact, that he’d been waiting all day for us to show up – went right to work right after doing this, no remorse at all”
Bennett was interviewed and he confessed to the murder and exhibited no shame at what he had done.
According to Chief Walek, there was another person involved in the attack, and investigators are looking for a second suspect in the killing. He’s described as a slender man between 6 feet, and 6 feet 2 inches tall. Last seen driving a dark colored 4 door sedan, possibly a Nissan Altima. Walek encouraged the man to come into the police department and talk to them, telling him “It’s only a matter of time until we get you”
Chapman is survived by his 27 year old daughter and 25 year old son.
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