New Jersey man in jail after attacking Florida man with hammer

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – It was the attack that shocked a community and captured the attention of people across the country.

Edward Kang, a 20-year-old New Jersey man, is behind bars and was arraigned on Thursday on charges of flying to Florida to attack someone with a hammer over an argument in an online video game.

Kang and his attorneys asked the judge to set bail for his attempted second-degree murder charge after he was accused of flying to Florida to beat a Nassau County man with a hammer over an argument about a video game. The judge denied the bail request.

Kang appeared before a judge on a Zoom call from the Nassau County Jail for a bail hearing for his charges of attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary. His mother joined the call from New Jersey as Kang’s defense attorney called for his client to be released from custody.

“To my knowledge, my client has no prior criminal record, either as an adult or as a juvenile, and he has had no contact with the criminal justice system,” Kang’s lawyer said.

Until Sunday morning, the prosecution was not interested in his past.

“He has no ties to the community,” said District Attorney Karl Green, “he came from New York with the express purpose of committing a crime in Florida and our community here.”

Kang was arrested on Sunday. The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office said he flew from New Jersey to Jacksonville on Friday to commit his crimes.

Employees at the Ace Hardware store on South 8th Street in Fernandina Beach confirmed News from First Coast that Kang bought a hammer from her store this weekend.

Employees of the Ocean Coast Hotel also confirmed News from First Coast that Kang had booked this room in her hotel and the departure date was on Sunday, the day of the attack.

Kang could be seen wiping tears from his eyes several times as the prosecution presented its arguments to the judge.

“Attempted murder with a weapon is a first-degree felony punishable by life in prison, and we ask that you hold him without bail,” Green said.

As Kang continued to wipe tears from his eyes, the judge announced his verdict.

“I must order pretrial detention because I believe no release condition or bail will protect the community from physical harm,” said Judge Steven Fahlgren.

Edward Kang was denied bail and remains in the Nassau County Jail awaiting trial on attempted second-degree murder charges for attacking a man with a hammer following an argument over a video game.

The district administration’s office says prosecutors may upgrade charges against him.

RELATED: Sheriff: Man flew from New Jersey to Jacksonville, attacked man he met playing online video game