CYCLO-PATH: Man Beats Bicyclist Dad Of Two To Death With Tyre Iron

A man who allegedly randomly beat a dad-of-two cyclist to death with a tyre iron has been charged with first-degree murder in Florida.

Accused Jermaine Adrian Bennett, 26, bludgeoned 49-year-old victim Jeffrey Chapman 10 times with the weapon.

Then bafflingly he told police he blamed the brutal killing on “the ills of society.”

Jermaine Adrian Bennett, 26, poses in undated photo. He is charged with first-degree murder for beating Jeffrey Chapman to death with a tire iron in a random attack in Clearwater, Florida, USA, on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (Clearwater Police Department/Newsflash)

Bennett, 26, admitted the attack in Clearwater, in the southern US state of Florida, on 21st October.

The Clearwater Police Department released a photograph of the suspect and said in a statement on 22nd October: “This is Jermaine Bennett, charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Jeffrey Chapman on Friday on Clearwater Beach.

“He admitted beating the victim to death with a tire iron in the random attack. We continue to seek a second suspect in the case. Anyone with information should contact us at 727-562-4242.” (sic)

Jeffrey Chapman, 49, poses in undated photo. Jermaine Adrian Bennett, 26, is charged with first-degree murder for beating him to death with a tire iron in a random attack in Clearwater, Florida, USA, on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (@ClearwaterBeachAssociation/Newsflash)

Deputy Police Chief Michael Walek said in a press conference on 22nd October that there is a second suspect, who they are still looking for.

Walek, who said that the suspect allegedly hit the victim 10 times with the tyre iron, added: “This case was very heinous and very violent.”

He said: “He was charged with first-degree murder, which he confessed to, and described as being a random act and the ills of society [had] gotten to him.

Jeffrey Chapman, 49, poses in undated photo. Jermaine Adrian Bennett, 26, is charged with first-degree murder for beating him to death with a tire iron in a random attack in Clearwater, Florida, USA, on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (@ClearwaterBeachAssociation/Newsflash)

“During the interview, he showed no remorse to the killing. During this investigation, we have recovered a lot of forensic evidence and we got some very good investigative leads from our interview with Bennett, and I encourage the outstanding suspect to do the right thing and turn himself in. It’s only a matter of time before we get you.”

Walek did not detail what the second suspect allegedly did, only saying that they had played “an active role” in the gruesome killing.

Victim Chapman’s long-time friend Lisa Owen told local media: “I don’t think anybody’s really processed it yet. We’re still trying to process what happened.

Jeffrey Chapman, 49, poses with unidentified woman in undated photo. Jermaine Adrian Bennett, 26, is charged with first-degree murder for beating him to death with a tire iron in a random attack in Clearwater, Florida, USA, on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (@ClearwaterBeachAssociation/Newsflash)

“We’re still trying to understand it. I mean, why, why did this happen?

“The ‘ills of society’ I think is what the police chief mentioned. It wasn’t him. He wasn’t the ills of society, far from it, he was the opposite. He tried to help people.”

The investigation is ongoing.