Posted 2:27 am Friday, June 01, 2012
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‘Sucker Punch’ Brain Injury Case Under Investigation
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
The past several weeks have been difficult for Terry Martin as he has waited for his son to recover from a serious brain injury sustained after he was “sucker punched” at a Jacksonville nightclub.
Martin said his 21-year-old son Jacob met some of his friends at Neon Country on May 17 to have some fun on the town, but the fun turned into tragedy.
“As I understand it, Jacob and his friends got into a verbal altercation with some other people and as the evening went on the words escalated,” he said.
Jacksonville Police Detective James Odom said the investigation thus far indicates the suspect in the case suddenly took several steps toward Jacob and, without any warning, punched him.
Odom said as Jacob fell unconscious his head struck the concrete floor causing the brain injury.
Staff Writer
The past several weeks have been difficult for Terry Martin as he has waited for his son to recover from a serious brain injury sustained after he was “sucker punched” at a Jacksonville nightclub.
Martin said his 21-year-old son Jacob met some of his friends at Neon Country on May 17 to have some fun on the town, but the fun turned into tragedy.
“As I understand it, Jacob and his friends got into a verbal altercation with some other people and as the evening went on the words escalated,” he said.
Jacksonville Police Detective James Odom said the investigation thus far indicates the suspect in the case suddenly took several steps toward Jacob and, without any warning, punched him.
Odom said as Jacob fell unconscious his head struck the concrete floor causing the brain injury.
“Everything I have been told by witnesses thus far is that the victim had no chance to defend himself before he was struck,” he said.
Odom said several days following the incident rumors began circulating that there were more people involved in the attack and that as Jacob was on the floor unconscious he was viciously kicked.
“I have heard all kinds of things that have been posted on Facebook about this, but I have not talked to one person that has confirmed anyone else was involved or that the victim was kicked or beaten while on the ground,” he said.
Martin said in the hours following the incident, Jacob was taken to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler where he underwent surgery to repair the brain bleed in the front left lobe.
Odom said several days following the incident rumors began circulating that there were more people involved in the attack and that as Jacob was on the floor unconscious he was viciously kicked.
“I have heard all kinds of things that have been posted on Facebook about this, but I have not talked to one person that has confirmed anyone else was involved or that the victim was kicked or beaten while on the ground,” he said.
Martin said in the hours following the incident, Jacob was taken to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler where he underwent surgery to repair the brain bleed in the front left lobe.
Martin said Thursday that Jacob remained in ICU but continued to make progress.
“We just watch the situation daily. He is conscious but he has a long way to go,” he said. “It’s like we have small miracles every day.”
Martin said the doctors have not given any type of time schedule on when Jacob may be fully recovered.
“Patience is something I have learned during all of this and is something that I didn’t have much of before this,” he said.
Odom hopes anyone who may have witnessed the incident but hasn’t come forward will call him.
There have been no arrests, but Odom said he is actively working the case.
“We are working this as an aggravated assault, but we still have to watch how Mr. Martin recovers,” he said.
“We just watch the situation daily. He is conscious but he has a long way to go,” he said. “It’s like we have small miracles every day.”
Martin said the doctors have not given any type of time schedule on when Jacob may be fully recovered.
“Patience is something I have learned during all of this and is something that I didn’t have much of before this,” he said.
Odom hopes anyone who may have witnessed the incident but hasn’t come forward will call him.
There have been no arrests, but Odom said he is actively working the case.
“We are working this as an aggravated assault, but we still have to watch how Mr. Martin recovers,” he said.
