Inset: Jarrell N. Jones (Orange County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The intersection in Florida where Jones allegedly ran over the head of another man several times (Google Maps).
An 18-year-old man in Florida is accused of using his car to try to kill a pedestrian, allegedly running down the other man and then intentionally and repeatedly driving back and forth over the victim’s head.
Jarrell Noah Jones was taken into custody on Monday and charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the incident, court records show.
According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Silver Star Road and Belco Drive in reference to reports of an aggravated battery via motor vehicle taking place about 11:49 p.m. on Sept. 16. The intersection is about five miles northwest of Orlando.
Upon arriving, first responders located the victim, who appeared to be suffering from “life threatening head injuries,” and transported him to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment. The victim suffered a fractured skull and multiple brain bleeds, leaving him unable to speak.
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At the scene, an Uber driver told investigators she was parked next to the alleged assailant and witnessed the incident in its entirety and provided a statement.
The witness said she was driving westbound when she pulled up to a red light of the intersection at about 11:47 p.m. and stopped to the left of a silver Dodge Dart sedan allegedly being driven by Jones. She then saw the victim as he crossed the street heading northbound, passing by the front of both vehicles, which is when Jones allegedly ran him over several times.
“The victim walked between [the witness’s] and the suspect’s vehicle and was possibly asking for money,” the affidavit states. “The suspect’s vehicle turned its wheels to the left, towards the victim and drove forward, knocking the victim over and the front left wheel went over the victim’s body. The suspect placed the vehicle in reverse over the victim’s head. The suspect put the vehicle in drive, once again and drove over the victim’s head, and reversed over his head.”
Police say that after repeatedly running over the victim, Jones fled westbound “at a high rate of speed” and the witness called 911 to report the incident. She was unable to provide a description of the driver because the car had tinted windows.
Police said they were able to identify the driver of the Dodge Dart using footage from the surrounding traffic cameras and a search warrant was obtained.
In an interview with police, the other male passenger allegedly said he was in the back seat of the car while Jones drove and Jones’s girlfriend was in the front seat. They were on their way to McDonald’s when an “unknown Black male” approached his vehicle and began “yelling.”
“[The male passenger] advised he ‘blacked out’ and did not remember anything after that until they arrived back at [Jones’] residence,” the affidavit says.
However, Jones’ girlfriend allegedly provided authorities with a different story about what happened. From the affidavit:
On the way to McDonald’s at a red light, an unknown black male approached the driver side of the vehicle. The male stood near the driver door of the vehicle. [Jones] honked the horn at the male several times. [Jones] drove the vehicle forward and the male fell over. [The girlfriend] stated she believed [Jones] did it intentionally, and when asked [Jones] why he did it, [Jones]Â told her “I thought he had something.” [Jones] backed up to see if he ran over the male [then] turned the vehicle to the right and drove off.
Jones told police he never saw the victim and denied “any involvement in hitting anybody.” He also claimed he and the other two passengers went to McDonald’s that evening, which police said contradicted the passengers’ statements.
Police executed a search warrant for Jones’ cellphone, which allegedly showed that at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 17, he performed a Google search for “ways to cover up a hit n run,” the affidavit says. He also allegedly deleted “all conversations from the time of the incident.”
Jones is currently being held in the Orange County Detention Center without bond, records show. It was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to make his first appearance in court.
