An elderly man fought off an armed home invasion suspect in Ponte Vedra Beach, deputies said.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the suspect broke into the home on Sea Winds Lane early Tuesday morning while the homeowners were asleep.
The 77-year-old man, who was too scared to go on camera, said his wife woke up and found the suspect going through their closet.
He said the suspect had a knife and a flashlight in his hands.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
The homeowner didn’t back down. He said he grabbed his own knife and confronted the suspect, scaring him off.
The homeowner said the suspect ran out the front door after he confronted him.
TRENDING:
- Florida woman 'infatuated' with Columbine shooting prompts school closures, manhunt, police say
- Local father outraged after judge grants sex offender visits with his 8-year-old daughter
- JSO officer runs stop sign, crashes into van with children inside, witness says
- Alleged aggressor in road rage that led to deadly crash had past problems behind the wheel
- Toddler killed when man shoots into Georgia home, vehicle, deputies say
The Sheriff’s Office has not released a police report or a description of the suspect, but deputies are searching for him.
People who live in the peaceful Ponte Vedra Beach neighborhood said they are on edge.
A neighbor, Angela D’Andrea, said her neighbor was brave. "Adrenaline kicks in and I guess you do what you need to do and just kind of scare them off," D'Andrea said.
An elderly man fights off an armed home invasion suspect in Ponte Vedra Beach. What the suspect was doing when the couple found him, at 5PM on CBS47 @ActionNewsJax. pic.twitter.com/Y7DCCAxikW
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) April 17, 2019
Neighbors tell Action News Jax they are taking extra precautions and hope deputies find the suspect before he strikes again.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
The front entrance to the neighborhood has surveillance video. Deputies are asking anyone with their own cameras to review the video to see if it captured the suspect.
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-23-2024/t_8846f6a1613746e2863363cea1df0c34_name_file_960x540_1200_v3_1_.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/UPSNZVHYKZE2VDSCN54C3FTF5E.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/NGMKLAKH5NF27JQOAGV7JN25OU.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/5BGF6ZRBF5BH3JEEOYZ2JOLJAA.png)
:quality(70)/d1hfln2sfez66z.cloudfront.net/04-24-2024/t_d73855398dca4bf5a6e1eca4fedb0fdd_name_file_960x540_1200_v3_1_.jpg)