TAMPA, Fla. – A 21-year-old Florida man has been charged with homicide after purposely hitting a man with his Jeep.
According to investigators, on the morning of June 13, Tampa Police responded to the 3100 block of W. Harbor View Ave after a male caller, later identified as 21-year-old Jordan Aronson, stated that he had ‘hit a known adult male’ ‘with his vehicle.
Aronson told police that he had left the area in his vehicle, that the victim was “on the floor” and needed medical attention, and that the victim had tried to attack him.
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Tampa Fire Rescue transported the injured victim, a white male in his late 50s, to a nearby hospital where it was learned he had suffered multiple traumatic injuries (including injuries to the skull and brain) and he was placed on a ventilator.
Detectives continued their investigation and gathered evidence that conflicted with post-Miranda statements made by Aronson.
Police say that a review of surveillance video showed an altercation between the victim and Aronson, and the video corroborated some portions of Aronson’s statement.
However, police say the video also refutes some assertions made by Aronson, showing Aronson back the Jeep to the road, at which time the victim picks up a three-ring binder filled with paperwork, runs toward the Jeep, and throws the binder at the Jeep.
Investigators say Aronson then quickly drives straight into the driveway, striking the victim with the front driver’s side of the vehicle.
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As the victim began falling to the driver’s side of the vehicle, Aronson turned the vehicle towards that side, appearing to “track” the falling victim.
The Jeep then stopped as it appeared to hit a palm tree, with the victim on the ground adjacent to the tree and tire. The Jeep then backed into the road.
In the early hours of June 21, the victim died at the hospital from the wounds sustained due to Aronson’s Jeep striking him. The investigation was then re-classified as a homicide.
On Friday, June 23, Jordan Aronson was arrested in Ft. Lauderdale and charged with homicide.
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