A Florida Man allegedly attacked a group of teens that were sitting in a car at a gas station by bashing the vehicle they were in with a metal pipe and using racial slurs against them.
58-year-old Richard Burnham resides in DeLand, Florida.
Around 3:00 pm on January 22, Burnham reportedly went to a Circle K gas station.
It was reported that when Burnham arrived at the location, three teenagers between the ages of 17 and 18 that were traveling in a vehicle together were at one of the pumps getting gas.
Burnham reportedly became aggressive towards the teenagers, and he allegedly did so without provocation. The man allegedly made several racial comments to the teens before he went inside the convenience store.
When Burnham left the store, he reportedly grabbed a metal pipe from his vehicle and used it to bust the front window of the car the teens were in. He additionally allegedly used the pipe to smash the passenger side door hard enough to leave a dent.
The driver pulled away, and Burnham allegedly trailed behind the car for a couple of miles.
The teenagers notified the authorities, and they gave a description of the man and his vehicle.
The police learned that Burnham was the person they believed they were seeking.
The security camera footage from the store reportedly showed someone with Burnham’s appearance inside Circle K at the time of the incident.
On January 26, Burnham talked to the authorities about the incident and reportedly said that he was at the gas station on the day in question. He told the police that the teens threatened his life and used an airsoft gun to shoot him, and he responded by throwing the pipe at their vehicle.
The police reported that Burnham said the incident happened at a different time than when it occurred. The alleged victims were not found with an airsoft gun in their possession, and the authorities did not believe Burnham’s version of the story was credible.
Burnham was placed under arrest and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail. He is facing charges of one count of criminal mischief causing $1,000 damage and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charges were enhanced to a hate crime due to Burnham’s alleged racial attack against the teens. Burnham was released on a $40,000 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.