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Tractor Thief Terrorized College Campus

A Florida man is facing several charges after reportedly stealing a tractor from his place of employment and driving it to a college campus with the alleged intent of killing two people.

Early in the evening on May 4, a man who works as a groundskeeper at the Key West Golf Club reportedly swiped a tractor from the property and drove it to the College of the Florida Keys. When he reached one of the dormitories, the man allegedly drove into the lobby and used the bucket to wreck the plumbing in the building.

According to reports, he then made his way to the parking lot where a man and his daughter were sitting in a vehicle, and they reportedly watched as he allegedly smashed into a truck with enough force to flip it. Afterward, he reportedly struck the front of their car, and they got out to avoid potential injury.

Several people called the authorities to report what was happening, and officers from the Key West Police Department headed to the scene. The man drove the tractor to the transit center. When he spotted a police car, he reportedly intentionally crashed into it with the tractor and used the bucket to smash the windshield, and the officer started shooting at him.

The man was taken into custody and booked into the Monroe County Detention Center. He is facing preliminary charges of three counts of attempted murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, one count of grand theft of a vehicle, burglary, and criminal mischief. The police reported that he also caused hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage during the incident. According to jail records, he is being held without bond.

The authorities reported that the suspect intended to kill two people when he went to the college with the tractor. No one was injured during the incident.

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.

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