Valentine’s Day on the Daytona Beach Boardwalk turned into a nightmare for one family when a teenager was brutally attacked. Thirteen-year-old Sullivan Clarke was walking with his parents, enjoying the evening after a day at the Daytona International Speedway, when a stranger suddenly lashed out.
Sullivan was distracted by a phone call, seemingly unaware of the danger approaching. His mother, Lori, witnessed the horrifying moment a man swiftly moved toward her son and slashed his neck. Initially, she believed he was attempting to steal Sullivan’s phone, but the reality was far more sinister.
The wound was immediately visible – a deep gash that Jerod Clarke, Sullivan’s father, described as “wide open.” The family rushed to get help, the terrifying realization of what had happened sinking in with each passing second. Doctors later revealed the attack came within millimeters of being fatal.
Remarkably, Sullivan believes a split-second decision saved his life. He had been looking up at a nearby amusement park ride, the slingshot, when he turned his head. This slight movement meant the blade caught the side of his neck instead of a direct, potentially deadly, hit.
The attacker, identified as 44-year-old Jermaine Lynn Long, was quickly apprehended hiding near a pier overpass. He now faces two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Long was released from jail just four days prior to the assault, already facing pending charges.
Long’s past is riddled with arrests, including a recent January incident involving aggravated assault and physical contact. This history paints a disturbing picture of a man with a pattern of violent behavior, raising questions about why he was free to potentially harm others.
A local worker, Andrew Walker, recounted a chilling encounter with Long just minutes before the attack. He recognized the man being led away in handcuffs, stunned to learn he was the assailant in the boardwalk stabbing. The encounter underscores the randomness and suddenness of the violence.
Despite investigators’ efforts, Long remains silent, refusing to offer any explanation for his actions. The motive behind the brutal attack remains a mystery, leaving the Clarke family and the community grappling with fear and unanswered questions.
