A 20-year-old is facing an attempted second-degree murder charge in Florida after allegedly flying from New Jersey to attack a fellow gamer with a hammer following an online dispute.
Edward Kang and the victim had never met in person before the attack early Sunday, but they were acquainted through an online video game called ArcheAge, which Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper mentioned during a press conference allows players to fight and kill each other’s characters.
Sheriff Leeper stated that it’s unclear what happened in the game to prompt Kang to travel to the victim’s Florida home, but Kang told authorities after his arrest that the victim “is a bad person online.”
After informing his family he was meeting a friend he knew from an online video game, Kang arrived in Florida and purchased a hammer and flashlight from a hardware store. He then went to the victim’s residence, entered through an unlocked door, and was found by the victim mid-attack.
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office
The victim’s stepfather intervened and restrained Kang until authorities arrived, with both gamers taken to the hospital. Kang was released into custody and the victim had non-life-threatening head wounds.
Sheriff Leeper stated that Kang may face upgraded charges as the investigation progresses and that Kang asked about potential jail time for his actions after his arrest.
ArcheAge, the game they were both playing, is shutting down in Europe and North America. Sheriff Leeper emphasized the importance of caution in online interactions and home security.
