Mayor of Florida Town Where Trayvon Martin Was Killed Is Carjacked by Three Gun-Wielding Teens
Daily Mail, June 26, 2016
A Florida mayor was held at gunpoint by three teens Saturday, who made off with his wallet and Mercedes car.
Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett was standing on Chapman Avenue, a residential area, at around 2.15 am when the three youths approached him.
Jeff Triplett
One shoved a gun in his mouth while the other pointed a gun at his ear, Triplett told WFTV
Triplett told WKMG: ‘This is a very scary situation. I’m the father of two and I’ve been married for 20 years this year.
‘I’m lucky to be standing here having this conversation.’
They then stole his car keys, before stealing his wallet and then drove off in his SUV, which police say they later crashed into a ditch.
Triplett gave a detailed description of the suspects to police and 18-year-old Jermine Jacques Horne and 17-year-old Demarcus Paige were arrested a short time later.
Jermine Jacques and Demarcus Paige
A judge Sunday ordered that Jermine Jacques Horne remain in the Seminole County jail without bail.
Horne and Paige faces charges of armed carjacking, aggravated assault, while Horne also faces contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Paige was placed on secure detention. His arraignment is set for July 11. Jail records didn’t show whether Horne had an attorney.
The third person has not yet been caught. It was not immediately known if either suspect had a lawyer.
Triplett said: ‘Being a victim of a crime is unnerving, yet it was reassuring to witness both speed and diligence from the Sanford Police Department.
‘It is disheartening when this type of crime takes place in the City of Sanford. I encourage the community, its businesses and the Police Department to continue to work together and stop this type of violence.’
He added that it was ‘just a random act of violence.’
Sanford is about 25 miles northeast of Orlando.
