Home invasion robbery in Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach Police Department

The Fernandina Beach Police Department is actively working a home invasion robbery that occurred in the 2800 block of Manatee Avenue during the early morning hours today. One juvenile is in custody and charged with Home Invasion Robbery.

Police were called to the residence at approximately 12:33 A.M. and told that 4 to 6 armed subjects, wearing masks, who were robbing the occupants of the residence. The house was occupied, by approximately 15 subjects at the time of the robbery. The suspects were armed with assault rifles, handguns, and knives. They were described as being young black males, wearing black, red, orange, gold, green, and white masks. One suspect was reportedly wearing a red bandanna with eye holes cut into it.

The victims were held at gunpoint while money, cell phones, and electronics were being stolen from the house. Two of the victims were struck in the head with the butt of an assault rifle; causing minor injuries. Other victims (some who rent rooms in the house) had guns pointed directly at their heads.

The homeowner and a second victim recognized one of the suspects when his mask came off during the robbery. He was armed with a large knife and was actively participating in the robbery. The individual had been a guest in this home on a few occasions and the men have often played basketball together at a local gym.

The listed defendant ran from the house, jumped a fence, and ran through the woods behind the house. The homeowner caught him coming out of the woods and forced him back to the house. The other suspects pointed guns at the homeowner demanding that he release the defendant, but the homeowner refused to let him go.

The suspects then fled the area in different cars, but soon came back and made a second attempt to free the listed defendant, who was still being held by the homeowner until police arrival. The other suspects pointed guns at the homeowner again demanding that he release the one suspect, but the homeowner again refused and continue to use the suspect as a shield to protect himself from possible gunfire. The suspects then fled the area in their vehicles.

A search of the nearby wooded area led to the recovery of an assault rifle (loaded with a round in the chamber), a large knife, an orange mask, and a red bandanna. The items were found just over the fence where the defendant jumped while running away. The listed defendant admitted to jumping the fence and to discarding his mask and a backpack in that general area.

The listed defendant was arrested and transported to the Fernandina Beach Police Department. Post Miranda, he admitted to his role in the robbery and advised he needed money to help ill family members. He claimed that the others were acquaintances from Jacksonville, Florida.

The juvenile arrested at the scene was allowed to speak with his grandfather before being transported to the Nassau County Jail. At 11:15 this morning investigators were actively working this case in Jacksonville, attempting to develop leads and recover stolen property.