Online Feud Escalates: New Jersey Man Flies to Florida for Gamer Attack
A Newark, New Jersey man is facing serious charges after allegedly attacking a fellow online gamer in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Edward Kang, 20, has been charged with attempted murder and armed burglary following the incident, which reportedly stemmed from an online dispute over the video game ArcheAge.
According to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper, the attack occurred over the weekend when Kang traveled from Newark to confront the victim. Dressed in black and wearing gloves, Kang entered the victim’s home through an unlocked door. The victim was attacked as he got up to use the bathroom.
The victim, with the help of his stepfather who was alerted by his screams, managed to subdue Kang until law enforcement arrived. Authorities described the scene as being covered in blood, with the victim suffering from severe head injuries. The victim was transported to a hospital where he is currently recovering.
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During questioning, Kang explained that the attack was motivated by a personal issue with the victim, whom he described as a “bad person online.” Kang told his family he was traveling to Florida to meet a friend he had known from gaming. After arriving in Jacksonville early Friday, he purchased a hammer and a flashlight, the tools he allegedly used in the attack, with receipts found in his hotel room confirming the purchase.
ArcheAge, the online multiplayer game central to the dispute, announced in April that it would no longer be accessible in the United States due to a lack of players, according to its publisher.