ORLANDO, FL — An Orlando teenager has been charged with attempted murder following a harrowing incident late Sunday where he is accused of deliberately driving over a pedestrian multiple times, resulting in severe injuries for the victim.
Eighteen-year-old Jarrell Noah Jones was arrested on Monday without bond. The arrest followed a distressing scene witnessed at the intersection of Silver Star Road and Belco Drive just before midnight, where authorities claim Jones used his vehicle as a weapon against an unsuspecting pedestrian.
Police reports detail a chaotic scene observed by several eyewitnesses, including an Uber driver who allegedly saw the entire violent act unfold. According to her statement to the police, after both her car and Jones’ silver Dodge Dart had stopped at a red light, the pedestrian appeared, seemingly asking for money.
She described a shocking sequence where Jones allegedly targeted the pedestrian, striking him initially before reversing and driving over him repetitively. The victim, who has not been identified, suffered critical injuries including a skull fracture and serious brain trauma and is currently in critical condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Responding law enforcement was able to trace Jones’ car using surveillance video from the intersection. Further investigation led to a search warrant, revealing two other passengers were present in the vehicle at the time: Jones’ girlfriend and another male.
Insights from inside the car varied significantly. While the male passenger claimed to have no memory of the incident, asserting he had “blacked out,” Jones’ girlfriend provided a contradictory statement. She indicated that the victim had approached their car and after some interaction that included honking by Jones, he accelerated aggressively, knocking the man down in a manner that seemed intentional to her.
Despite the accusations and evidence, Jones denied all allegations of intentionally hitting the pedestrian. He told detectives that the trio had simply been on a trip to McDonald’s and claimed he was unaware of any collision.
Compellingly, police scrutiny of Jones’ cell phone activity uncovered a search query for “ways to cover up a hit n run” made less than two hours after the alleged crime. Additionally, Jones is reported to have erased messages from around the time of the incident, adding suspicions regarding his purported innocence.
While investigators continue to piece together the events of that night, Jones remains in jail, awaiting further legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the community and local authorities are calling attention to pedestrian safety and the dire consequences of vehicular assault.