Mayor Carjacked At Gunpoint Near Orlando


In 2012, George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin in a gated community and made news that rocked the nation for months on end. The incident took place in Sanford, a city in central Florida.

George Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch volunteer at the time of the shooting, said that he was defending himself against Trayvon when he shot and killed the 17-year-old. There was lots of speculation surrounding the case from the racial perspective. The case sparked national protests and a country-wide debate about race relations and prejudice. A jury acquitted Mr. Zimmerman of murder charges in 2013 and the United States Justice Department eventually chose not to prosecute him on civil rights charges.

Earlier today, the city of Sanford became the center of attention yet again, when police announced that they were searching for suspects because Mayor Jeff Triplett had been carjacked at gunpoint.

According to a story by Fox News, Mayor Triplett was outside his home at around 2:15 a.m. when three men approached him. Mayor Triplett told authorities that one of the suspects pointed a gun at him and stole his car keys. The suspects also stole his wallet before taking off in his Mercedes.

Mayor Triplett provided a detailed description of the suspects for authorities. Two men (18-year-old Jermine Jacques Horne and a 17-year-old minor) were arrested very shortly after Triplett spoke with police. As of now, the third suspect is still at large. There has been no word on whether or not the suspects in custody have obtained counsel.

Authorities later located the mayor’s car, which had been damaged. Mayor Triplett gave a statement about the incident.

“Being a victim of a crime is unnerving, yet it was reassuring to witness both speed and diligence from the Sanford Police Department.”

As would be expected, the incident has been popping up on news outlets all over the United States.

There is currently no report on the extent of the type of damage the mayor’s car sustained in the throes of the incident. No clear motive has been made public and no additional details of the case have been released to reporters.

In a distressing circumstance of the incident, Sanford, Florida, is located only 25 miles from Orlando, which has been marred by several tragedies in recent weeks. The shooting of singer Christina Grimmie at a meet-and-greet event, the mass shooting that resulted in more than 50 deaths at a gay night club, and the death of Lane Graves from an alligator attack at a Disney World resort.

This story is still unfolding. As all eyes are on Orlando, you can rest assured that the Inquisitr will provide updates on this story as authorities work to locate the third suspect in the carjacking. Stay tuned as we bring you updates on this and other trending news stories.

[Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images]

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