Florida Man Attacks Friend With Hatchet Over Broken Phone — Even After Victim Bought Him a New One
BRADENTON, FLORIDA — A Florida man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for brutally attacking his friend with a hatchet over a phone that had already been replaced, according to Manatee County court records.
Authorities say 35-year-old Jaquan Marquis Sykes launched the violent attack after his friend “accidentally” broke his phone weeks earlier, a dispute that escalated into what deputies described as a premeditated act of revenge.
Late-Night Attack Over a Petty Grudge
The attack occurred around 1 a.m. on Jan. 30, 2022, when Sykes picked up a man and woman — both friends of his — to buy alcohol at an Oneco Rose liquor store in Bradenton.
Once they arrived, Sykes asked the man to step outside the vehicle to “talk.” Moments later, he ambushed him with a hatchet wrapped in parachute cord, striking the victim several times in the upper body.
“He said that he was struck multiple times on his upper body and sustained multiple lacerations to his head,” the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office wrote in its report.
The victim suffered multiple fractured bones that required surgery and metal pins to stabilize.
During the assault, Sykes allegedly shouted,
“So now you wanna beg for your life,”
before striking again, according to the arrest warrant.
Victim Left Bleeding in the Road
After the attack, Sykes returned to his car alone and told the woman to “go find” the victim. When she stepped outside, she discovered her friend bleeding and severely injured in the roadway, with deep cuts to his arms, torso, and head.
As Sykes drove off, he allegedly yelled:
“That was for breaking my phone.”
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed that his wounds were life-threatening but that he was expected to recover.
Police Identify Suspect Known as ‘Quan’
Both the woman and the victim identified Sykes — also known by his nickname “Quan” — as the attacker. Investigators say the motive dated back to Christmas Day 2021, when the victim accidentally broke Sykes’ phone.
The victim told police he had already replaced the damaged phone and couldn’t understand why Sykes was still angry.
“He believes this incident stemmed over him accidentally breaking Jaquan’s phone on Christmas,” the report stated.
Sykes Sentenced After Pleading Guilty
Sykes pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and was sentenced this week to two and a half years in prison. However, with 626 days of time served, he will only serve about nine more months unless new charges emerge.
Despite the relatively short sentence, the case has drawn attention in Florida for its senseless violence over a trivial dispute, underscoring how easily personal conflicts can spiral into life-threatening assaults.
Stories like this highlight the danger of unresolved anger and the importance of conflict resolution before violence erupts. For more breaking crime updates and local reports, stay connected with ChicagoMusicGuide.com.