A man from Newark, New Jersey, is facing attempted murder charges and armed burglary after allegedly attacking a fellow online game with a hammer in Florida. The attack stemmed from an online dispute over the video game ArcheAge.
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Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said during a press briefing on Monday that Edward Kang,20, traveled to Fernandina Beach, Florida, purportedly to confront the victim at his home. The attack occurred over the weekend when Kang, dressed in black and wearing gloves, entered the victim’s home through an unlocked door. Authorities stated Kang assaulted the victim as he was getting up to use the bathroom.
According to ABC News, the victim managed to wrestle Kang to the ground with the help of his stepfather, who was alerted by the victim’s screams. They subdued Kang until law enforcement arrived, finding the scene covered in blood and the victim suffering from severe head injuries. The victim was transported to a hospital and is recovering.
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When investigators asked Kang what was his motive for the attack, he explained that he had a personal issue with the victim due to their online interactions and described him as a “bad person online.” The assailant also said he told his family that he was traveling to Florida to meet a friend he had known from gaming. After arriving in Jacksonville early Friday, he purchased a hammer and a flashlight, the tools he allegedly used in the attack, with receipts found in his hotel room confirming the purchase.
ArchAge, an online multiplayer game, announced in April that it would no longer be accessible in the United States, according to its publisher, claiming the lack of online players.
