Stabbing Incident in Volusia County, Florida

Recently, authorities in Volusia County, Florida, released information about a repeat offender who is suspected of stabbing a 13-year-old boy in the neck on Valentine’s Day.

On February 14, around 10 p.m., the Clark family was walking back to their hotel from the Daytona International Speedway along the Daytona Beach Boardwalk when a man allegedly approached and attacked Sullivan, cutting his throat. The suspect was later identified as Jermaine Long, a 44-year-old with a criminal history, according to court documents.

Sullivan’s mother was a witness to the attack and initially thought the man was merely trying to steal her son’s cell phone. In her words, “As soon as he cut him, I screamed, and I said, ‘Hey!'”

Sullivan’s father shared with FOX 35 that the injuries were severe, and doctors indicated that if the cut had been just a millimeter deeper, it could have been fatal. Sullivan himself speculated that the knife might have cut through his windpipe or aorta. He felt that he narrowly escaped death by instinctively turning his head to look at a ride on the pier just in time.

Long, described as homeless, allegedly used a box cutter in the attack. According to reports, he has a long history with law enforcement, having been arrested eight times since 2022. His past charges include two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, among others, and he had been released just four days prior to the incident.

On the day before the stabbing, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jacari Young addressed concerns about racial profiling within the department, asserting that policing is based on behavior and not on race or ethnicity. He emphasized that police actions are informed by calls for service and documented complaints from community members. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has yet to respond to inquiries about the situation.