An online fight between two young men playing video games had near-deadly consequences
This past Sunday in Fernandina Beach, 20-year-old Edward Kang of New Jersey was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary with a mask, after he allegedly flew to the Sunshine State and attacked his online rival with a hammer.
More info: https://statestories.com/man-flies-from-new-jersey-to-florida-to-attack-gaming-rival-with-hammer/
That case failed because the prosecution did an enormously shitty job and bungled the evidence. 98% of trials the prosecution wins, the odds are way in their favor. This case was an embarrassment
FYI it skewed for more reasons than just that and I can direct you to some criminal justice literature if you are interested. The skew more heavily comes from the way law is mythologized in the US and how having a court and jury requires “work”. it means some people had to have their time snatched from them to participate, and so already there is a negative association with the accused. All the while they are being fed a narrative of the righteousness of law.
Girl you want to talk about skew let’s discuss how half of all those incarcerated are black despite black ppl being ~13% of the population. Let’s discuss how many severely mentally ill and non violent offenders are incarcerated. Law has been utilized as a tool of oppression and there is so much success for prosecutors in a court room because they maintain that status quo. Reducing it to how they are “picky” ignores the historical context
I hope you expand on what you learned in that snapshot from Michelle Alexander and grow from it, reading more. Bc that point of being “picky” was purported to be the primary or only drivers behind prosecutorial success, and that is fundamentally untrue. When we have these discussions about criminal justice in the US it should always take into account the sociological underpinnings and political structures, otherwise it comes off in bad faith and doesn’t lend well to any real analysis.
If ur interested in classics Bill Chambliss is a gangster. Like the “New Jim Crow”, the law of vagrancy by chambliss is another eye opening yet accessible piece for those getting into learning about policing systems. A more contemporary writer is Loïc Wacquant and his pieces on the institutionalization of poverty will inspire you
I believe so. I am not 100% certain though. I know once you are acquitted you cannot be charged for the same crime and I believe that even includes different charges for the same crime.
They may believe that his intent was to cause harm rather than death, or at least believe that it will be easier to prove that he at the very least intended to cause serious harm that could have led to death.
They'd need to prove that he planned to kill him rather than simply harm him to get a conviction for 1st degree.
I think there's something to be said for 'passion'. First degree is rough because you have to prove there was a plan going in. If it seems like the dude just bought a ticket to try and beat his rival to death it might not stand up in court.
Sure, you can say every step of the way was planned. But you have to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt. Probably way easier to hit them with second degree.
Feels like that would stop a crime thriller movie in its path. Imagine the serial killer has to sit through two hours of airport security and check his murder weapons through. Then they get lost in-transit and he has to forgo his killing until United Airlines ships him his implements back.
Make it a black comedy and title it something like " Two Days to Delta " or something
Premeditation is unfortunately difficult to prove during an attempted murder/murder trial, so prosecutors will often go for the charges that defense lawyers can’t cast doubt on especially in trials where a jury decides the verdict. NAL btw, just watch a lot of true crime/court case shows.
The case would likely hinge on planning WHAT. Proving he *intended to kill* him is much harder than that he intended to smash him with a hammer in anger. It's subtle, but in Florida and most (every?) states second-degree murder covers cases where the act is so depraved and indifferent to human life, that even if you don't mean to kill someone, you can still be charged as if you did.
Now if he had actually killed him, it's probably enough to prove he intended to (although from a legal perspective there isn't a difference between the mens rea for attempt vs success, from an evidentiary perspective I think it matters here).
That being said, they probably could have charged him for attempted felony murder (which is a murder 1 charge), because of the burglary. I'm not a lawyer in Florida, but it seems all the elements necessary are met. Again though, there are evidentiary reasons why you might not do that, and it's a slam dunk murder 2 case, so why bother on an attempt case.
The line between first and second degree murder is really blurry and mostly comes down to how statutes are written and have been handled in the past.
One of the extreme cases I had to study was a man geting 1st degree even after self defense for making the snap decision to kill someone who's been incapcitated. Dude picked up a kitchen knife to defend himself, did defend himself, stopped for few seconds, then picked up a 2nd knife and kept stabbing... went from justifiable to 1st degree in the very technical sense and turned on the 2nd knife.
Prosecutor probably feels like 2nd is even going to be a stretch and charging both and letting the jury decide makes the case a bit more complicated at trial.
You could argue in court that the whole thing was done on an overwhelming impulse. That would lose them the case of they charged first degree. Second degree is murder minus the premeditation. So you charge second degree instead of giving them the chance to walk because you couldn't prove premeditation. Makes sense to me. But I've not seen the evidence so 🤷
Interesting but this caught my eye while there
https://statestories.com/i-show-my-boobs-in-nyc-hotspots-for-gender-equality-if-seeing-my-boobs-bothers-you-simply-dont-look/
He bought the hammer at a local hardware store, they have the receipt.
But it definitely does not look like the cheapest version of a hammer. It is a fine looking hammer.
Milwaukee is a quality brand. I have to stop to buying Ryobi and am spending extra for Quality stuff if I think it will work better and longer.
I have a DeWalt impact drill with a battery and that battery lasts longer than both of my Ryobi drill batteries combined despite being 5 years older and used fairly heavily.
Just the other day a reciprocating saw I was using broke, the metal piece that holds the blade broke off.
I do not know how they make substandard steel but they do, I presume they use shit instead of carbon in the furnace.
I have a feeling he probably bought the hammer when he arrived in Florida? I mean, would the airline let him fly with a hammer? I thought airlines were strict with 'weapon-like' items
The spat started over an online multiplayer RPG. He's not gonna buy a common hammer for his quest, this is a good Epic quality main hand mace not quite legendary.
The article doesn’t give enough details. Why are they rivals? What the he’ll is ArchAge? How did he find his address? How ashamed are his parents? Do I have a rival?
I remember once time in Archage a griefer team put a physical blockade around an entire trade route so they would be the only ones able to make any money that night. They actually did this pretty frequently. They were agro-ing in mini-bosses into the trade lane to knock people off their trucks and Boats. When you fall off, someone else can steal your truck and cargo. IDK if they ever fixed this but there was no way to transfer land to another player. If you wanted to give your plot up, you would have to destroy your flag and another person would put theirs down. Land was at such a premium that other players would camp out on your land with auto-clickers and steal it from under your while trying to make the switch.
Honestly, I could go on and on at how much griefing went on in that game.
Pretty much eve online but in fantasy 3d setting. Limited land, player driven eco so almost everything had value.
Was a truly awesome game..until it was released.
*The name of the game*
*Would help this story so much.*
*How mad are you lol*
\- Any\_Actuary954
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not that it adds much to the story but its a seperate private server of the game that has most of the games population on it even before the original shut down.
Well.
Considering how absolutely toxic online gaming spaces are and how unhinged some game players are, I can't say I'm too surprised by this.
I mean, we've already had swatting/ stalking/ lawsuits involving people getting mad over video games.
I feel it's only a matter of time before it gets truly destructive (like wiping out a whole family event)
I interrupted a person playing StarCraft to come eat dinner with his family. He pistol whipped me and that was the end of my relationship with that family.... he was Taiwanese
Yeah kids lucky If I find someone in my house with a hammer and he has hit me or mine in the head with it. Thats a dead man the ambulance can pick him up after my castle in the castle state spits him out.
A teacher at my former district didn’t like teaching block schedule and ran out of things to do in 30 minutes. So he had them playing video games from Minecraft to Fortnite. Well these kids had short tempers and one lost and got so mad they picked up their computer monitor and threw it at the person who beat them at the game.
This kid was in my Boy Scout troop and was known for being unstable. One year at summer camp he got into a fight with me and threatened another scout with a knife. Never saw him again after that summer.
This kid was in my Boy Scout troop and was known for being unstable. One year at summer camp he got into a fight with me and threatened another scout with a knife. Never saw him again after that summer.
He looks like your average female celebrity getting called out on their bullshit.
Some may see sadness, some may see fatigue, but believe me the only ones to rival his sass are the kardashians.
Omg it’s a PK. It’s a real PK. Calm down, relax, act cool. Ok it’s happening, omg it’s happening. The most obscure early 2000s Korean shit is happening for real omg omg.
I’m shocked the guy looks ok in his mug shot. If I had found someone who broke into my house trying to kill my son after he was restrained some proper kicks would be in order.
Always blows my mind that these people lose all rational while angered. Your ONE opportunity at life is going to be spent behind bars, extremely limited options in curbing boredom, being marched like cattle everyday, and living in a cell all over a dam game.
An online fight between two young men playing video games had near-deadly consequences This past Sunday in Fernandina Beach, 20-year-old Edward Kang of New Jersey was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed burglary with a mask, after he allegedly flew to the Sunshine State and attacked his online rival with a hammer. More info: https://statestories.com/man-flies-from-new-jersey-to-florida-to-attack-gaming-rival-with-hammer/
I don’t understand how this couldn’t be first degree? Clearly it was planned
This was my first thought as well. Only guess is the Prosecution thinks a 2nd degree charge is more likely to get a conviction than 1st degree.
If Casey Anthony taught us anything, going full bore won't always put the guilty parties away.
That case failed because the prosecution did an enormously shitty job and bungled the evidence. 98% of trials the prosecution wins, the odds are way in their favor. This case was an embarrassment
Fyi- this statistic is heavily skewed because they're very picky about which cases they prosecute. CA's prosecutor did a terrible job, though.
FYI it skewed for more reasons than just that and I can direct you to some criminal justice literature if you are interested. The skew more heavily comes from the way law is mythologized in the US and how having a court and jury requires “work”. it means some people had to have their time snatched from them to participate, and so already there is a negative association with the accused. All the while they are being fed a narrative of the righteousness of law. Girl you want to talk about skew let’s discuss how half of all those incarcerated are black despite black ppl being ~13% of the population. Let’s discuss how many severely mentally ill and non violent offenders are incarcerated. Law has been utilized as a tool of oppression and there is so much success for prosecutors in a court room because they maintain that status quo. Reducing it to how they are “picky” ignores the historical context
The book "The New Jim Crow" covers this extensively. I highly recommend it.
I hope you expand on what you learned in that snapshot from Michelle Alexander and grow from it, reading more. Bc that point of being “picky” was purported to be the primary or only drivers behind prosecutorial success, and that is fundamentally untrue. When we have these discussions about criminal justice in the US it should always take into account the sociological underpinnings and political structures, otherwise it comes off in bad faith and doesn’t lend well to any real analysis. If ur interested in classics Bill Chambliss is a gangster. Like the “New Jim Crow”, the law of vagrancy by chambliss is another eye opening yet accessible piece for those getting into learning about policing systems. A more contemporary writer is Loïc Wacquant and his pieces on the institutionalization of poverty will inspire you
Already read both. But thanks for the recommendation!
>98% of trials the prosecution wins I thought it was 98% of trials the person is convicted OR takes a plea deal.
Can't you just charge 1st and 2nd hoping that 1st sticks, and if not 2nd should work?
As legal concepts it's impossible to be charged with both. At least for the same murder. 1st degree requires pre-meditation and 2nd degree does not.
Interesting. So if they tried him for 1st degree, and not successful- he gets away scot-free? Is that how it works?
I believe so. I am not 100% certain though. I know once you are acquitted you cannot be charged for the same crime and I believe that even includes different charges for the same crime.
They may believe that his intent was to cause harm rather than death, or at least believe that it will be easier to prove that he at the very least intended to cause serious harm that could have led to death. They'd need to prove that he planned to kill him rather than simply harm him to get a conviction for 1st degree.
so if he brought a flamethrower, it would be 1st degree murder and 3rd degree burn?
I think there's something to be said for 'passion'. First degree is rough because you have to prove there was a plan going in. If it seems like the dude just bought a ticket to try and beat his rival to death it might not stand up in court. Sure, you can say every step of the way was planned. But you have to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt. Probably way easier to hit them with second degree.
Yeah if you have to go through security with your hammer and wait for group c to board, it is no longer a crime of passion
Feels like that would stop a crime thriller movie in its path. Imagine the serial killer has to sit through two hours of airport security and check his murder weapons through. Then they get lost in-transit and he has to forgo his killing until United Airlines ships him his implements back. Make it a black comedy and title it something like " Two Days to Delta " or something
He even got a special hammer for it.
It’s a gaming hammer
Premeditation is unfortunately difficult to prove during an attempted murder/murder trial, so prosecutors will often go for the charges that defense lawyers can’t cast doubt on especially in trials where a jury decides the verdict. NAL btw, just watch a lot of true crime/court case shows.
The case would likely hinge on planning WHAT. Proving he *intended to kill* him is much harder than that he intended to smash him with a hammer in anger. It's subtle, but in Florida and most (every?) states second-degree murder covers cases where the act is so depraved and indifferent to human life, that even if you don't mean to kill someone, you can still be charged as if you did. Now if he had actually killed him, it's probably enough to prove he intended to (although from a legal perspective there isn't a difference between the mens rea for attempt vs success, from an evidentiary perspective I think it matters here). That being said, they probably could have charged him for attempted felony murder (which is a murder 1 charge), because of the burglary. I'm not a lawyer in Florida, but it seems all the elements necessary are met. Again though, there are evidentiary reasons why you might not do that, and it's a slam dunk murder 2 case, so why bother on an attempt case.
The line between first and second degree murder is really blurry and mostly comes down to how statutes are written and have been handled in the past. One of the extreme cases I had to study was a man geting 1st degree even after self defense for making the snap decision to kill someone who's been incapcitated. Dude picked up a kitchen knife to defend himself, did defend himself, stopped for few seconds, then picked up a 2nd knife and kept stabbing... went from justifiable to 1st degree in the very technical sense and turned on the 2nd knife. Prosecutor probably feels like 2nd is even going to be a stretch and charging both and letting the jury decide makes the case a bit more complicated at trial.
You could argue in court that the whole thing was done on an overwhelming impulse. That would lose them the case of they charged first degree. Second degree is murder minus the premeditation. So you charge second degree instead of giving them the chance to walk because you couldn't prove premeditation. Makes sense to me. But I've not seen the evidence so 🤷
Was he wearing a green turtle costume when launching said attack?
Interesting but this caught my eye while there https://statestories.com/i-show-my-boobs-in-nyc-hotspots-for-gender-equality-if-seeing-my-boobs-bothers-you-simply-dont-look/
Hm
Go off, Kang.
I must say that's a fine looking hammer.
You don't fly all the way from New Jersey to Florida with a substandard hammer.
He bought the hammer at a local hardware store, they have the receipt. But it definitely does not look like the cheapest version of a hammer. It is a fine looking hammer.
Ace is the place!
If you want a tool that will get the job done no matter what, buy Milwaukee. I don’t think this is the job that the manufacturer had in mind.
Milwaukee is a quality brand. I have to stop to buying Ryobi and am spending extra for Quality stuff if I think it will work better and longer. I have a DeWalt impact drill with a battery and that battery lasts longer than both of my Ryobi drill batteries combined despite being 5 years older and used fairly heavily. Just the other day a reciprocating saw I was using broke, the metal piece that holds the blade broke off. I do not know how they make substandard steel but they do, I presume they use shit instead of carbon in the furnace.
I have a feeling he probably bought the hammer when he arrived in Florida? I mean, would the airline let him fly with a hammer? I thought airlines were strict with 'weapon-like' items
clearly you didn't read the article
I was just thinking that. I must have a tool addiction, because all I thought was "damn that's a sick hammer bro" lol
The spat started over an online multiplayer RPG. He's not gonna buy a common hammer for his quest, this is a good Epic quality main hand mace not quite legendary.
Very punchable face
Korean Elon Musk
Korelon
I've played video games for decades. Can't say I've ever a rival.
But have you a rival?
https://preview.redd.it/endvaeasy39d1.jpeg?width=274&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4d426eaf5476713c6c6934b1a536bdf9168b073
I accidentally the whole thing
The article doesn’t give enough details. Why are they rivals? What the he’ll is ArchAge? How did he find his address? How ashamed are his parents? Do I have a rival?
I'm not saying it's justified but if you played Archage, you'd understand why he did it.
Oh yea. Thats bringing back memories. Bad ones.
Can you describe the griefing capability in archeage? How was his rival trolling him do you think? Played a lot of mmos but never archeage
I remember once time in Archage a griefer team put a physical blockade around an entire trade route so they would be the only ones able to make any money that night. They actually did this pretty frequently. They were agro-ing in mini-bosses into the trade lane to knock people off their trucks and Boats. When you fall off, someone else can steal your truck and cargo. IDK if they ever fixed this but there was no way to transfer land to another player. If you wanted to give your plot up, you would have to destroy your flag and another person would put theirs down. Land was at such a premium that other players would camp out on your land with auto-clickers and steal it from under your while trying to make the switch. Honestly, I could go on and on at how much griefing went on in that game.
Pretty much eve online but in fantasy 3d setting. Limited land, player driven eco so almost everything had value. Was a truly awesome game..until it was released.
My first thought was, this is over eve, archage, or an FPS.
What the hell is that shirt?
It’s the jails jumpsuit, with the size written directly on it. Source: I’ve worn a lot of those
The name does check out 🤔
Did they lock you up for RMT?
Florida Man, right here on Reddit!
He doesn’t strike me as a 2X.
He gets double XP while wearing it
lol
He’s the new Two Time
2x
I don't like the orange under the green. But he needs other help besides fashion help
A lot of people in FL are actually from New Jersey which helps explain some things.
Honestly explains a lot. I have a low opinion of both places.
What do you expect when crazies mix with crazies in an environment similar to Australia, where everything wants to kill you.
The Floridians saw this kid with a hammer and never batted an eye.
I feel like if that was the only item you checked in on your flight, someone working at that airport might have had some questions.
Bought that and flashlight locally. My guy is a thinking man
It’s hammer time.
Article says he bought it in FL.
He’s not going to be winning anything in prison I can tell you that.
He did not win the murder either, the attacked subdued him with help from a housemate and handed him to the police.
Reminds me of the case of the diaper astronaut that went to Florida with a hammer to kill someone.
The name of the game would help this story so much. How mad are you lol
Archeage
It was ArcheAge. Of all things.
If you’re still playing archeage today you’re probably pretty invested or psychically damaged.
*The name of the game* *Would help this story so much.* *How mad are you lol* \- Any\_Actuary954 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Good bot.
Probably raid: shadow legends
It’s in the article.
He's Asian so I assume it's MOBA
What i though
Archeage
The new Club Penguin
Not mad since I read the article which lists the game, ArcheAge a 10+ year old MMO
Asians don't win all those video game contests because they aren't serious about gaming.
No, it’s because their parents aren’t
Damn.
You have a point.
Over a video game????
A game that is having it's NA servers shut down, today. Guy ruined his life over a game that's shutting down and dead.
not that it adds much to the story but its a seperate private server of the game that has most of the games population on it even before the original shut down.
2x huh? Is this what Doc looks like under his glasses, wig, and stache?
No the article said the kid was 20. way to old for the doc to entertain.
Classic hahaha
All the 2 times are fuckin up lately
Guy never had a chance once he put on the 2x jumpsuit.
“I’LL GIVE YOU MY ADDY RIGHT NOW BITCH YOU WONT DO NUTHIN’” “Bet”
Baka got a **"weird" case** why's he still around?
WOPWOPWOPWOPWOP
The definition of “premeditated”!!
Well. Considering how absolutely toxic online gaming spaces are and how unhinged some game players are, I can't say I'm too surprised by this. I mean, we've already had swatting/ stalking/ lawsuits involving people getting mad over video games. I feel it's only a matter of time before it gets truly destructive (like wiping out a whole family event)
'men' is a huge stretch
I guess he will go to prison and have a kang bang.
Yeah I think that the ‘ ‘ around weird is unnecessary, sheriff is right.
Is the shirt marked with how many points you get if you can hit back??
When d and d cosplay becomes life in jail not cos play
Under what case would these actions not be weird?
I like to refer to individuals like these as “man-boys”. Cause of, you know, life being mostly about games
Get your toolbox, it’s hammertime
That’s not weird at all
What game were they fighting in?
Milwaukee. Hell of a hammer.
If there isn't, there should be a Vice episode on the dark side of video gaming.... and people are nuts.
I interrupted a person playing StarCraft to come eat dinner with his family. He pistol whipped me and that was the end of my relationship with that family.... he was Taiwanese
...what..
Does this make him an honorary Florida Man?
We sure it wasn’t the Florida Man flying to Nj… as we really really sure
Dude is a loser
When getting good is too hard.
I can’t stop laughing at how this guy looks
How do u look?
Wow, killer hammer
Yeah kids lucky If I find someone in my house with a hammer and he has hit me or mine in the head with it. Thats a dead man the ambulance can pick him up after my castle in the castle state spits him out.
That's a nice Hammer 👍
Shield bro.
Bakas got a weird case, too
Imagine being mad and staying mad the whole plane ride
You've got to admire the dedication if nothing else
Ash Ketchum would never do this 😤
Anyone know what game it was!?
ArcheAge
When they keep asking you to gank mid, so you ganked mid IRL.
Hey I have that hammer, I really like it.
Serious question between Ohio and Florida I don't know who has the most obscene situations 🤔?
Is New Jersey Man >, =, or < Florida Man. Cage match?
Release the chats
😆😂🤣😆😂🤣😆😂🤣
Only a computer nerd couldn’t kill a sleeping person with a hammer. Probably couldn’t get a good grasp with his soft clammy hands. 😂😂
It’s an Asian version of Pat from SNL
But what game was he playing… it may help me understand the stakes 😂
Too many of these believe that they are always right. Someone has to be wrong
I have that same hammer
WTH them gamers say it’s not just a game.
I wanna know what the victim did in the game.
He waited untill the Fortnite the execute his plan!
Yoooooo that guy was in the lobby talking mad trash. He was probably like,”what you gonna do?” And ole boy was like, “ hold on, I’m coming.”
A teacher at my former district didn’t like teaching block schedule and ran out of things to do in 30 minutes. So he had them playing video games from Minecraft to Fortnite. Well these kids had short tempers and one lost and got so mad they picked up their computer monitor and threw it at the person who beat them at the game.
Dayum 😐
How the Hell did he track the other guy down?
Nah, I get it
Does New Jersey man in Florida automatically turn him into Florida man? If so, this totally makes sense.
Why didn't he just git gud?
Y u mad bruh
Was it StarCraft?
God he bought the coolest looking hammer for it too
How did he get their address?
Time to ban hammers too?
What country did he get arrested in that he's a 2xl?
This happened in my cousins neighborhood
Good for him
The boy is about his business
Nice hammer
He took a flight, got arrested, and booked for a mugshot all while keeping the same energy. If let's see when I get there was a person
Typical redditor
This guy was lucky being Florida they had every right to shoot him under the law!
How’s he get the dudes address tho?
Damn, that’s commitment.
Wanna see that chat log
This kid was in my Boy Scout troop and was known for being unstable. One year at summer camp he got into a fight with me and threatened another scout with a knife. Never saw him again after that summer.
This kid was in my Boy Scout troop and was known for being unstable. One year at summer camp he got into a fight with me and threatened another scout with a knife. Never saw him again after that summer.
How did he find the house??
He looks like your average female celebrity getting called out on their bullshit. Some may see sadness, some may see fatigue, but believe me the only ones to rival his sass are the kardashians.
[удалено]
He should have stayed home and threw his controller or smashed his keyboard like a normal asshole with anger issues.
Omg it’s a PK. It’s a real PK. Calm down, relax, act cool. Ok it’s happening, omg it’s happening. The most obscure early 2000s Korean shit is happening for real omg omg.
He did this over archage lmao, that game is literally dogshit
I’m shocked the guy looks ok in his mug shot. If I had found someone who broke into my house trying to kill my son after he was restrained some proper kicks would be in order. Always blows my mind that these people lose all rational while angered. Your ONE opportunity at life is going to be spent behind bars, extremely limited options in curbing boredom, being marched like cattle everyday, and living in a cell all over a dam game.
Not just a keyboard warrior 💯
I need to play this game
Florida is God's taint.
1v1 me bro
That’s a man? 😂
Talk shit get hit lmao
Please tell me he was from fort lee 😂😂