In a disturbing incident, three teenagers from Florida have been detained following a brutal assault on a 64-year-old homeless man. The attack was reportedly sparked by the victim allegedly disrespecting the teens’ deceased friends, as per court records.

The suspects, identified as Marcavion Lacey, 19, Robert Pope, 17, and Justin Curry, 13, now face murder charges in connection with the October 19 attack. This violent encounter tragically resulted in the death of Roger Borkum, a former New Yorker and World Trade Center consultant. Borkum was discovered gravely injured, lying in a pool of his own blood, according to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Roger Borkum’s past includes working as a consultant on the 77th floor of Tower 1 until he was laid off in July 2001, just before the September 11 attacks. His family reported they had not had contact with him for 24 years until his untimely death.

In a statement released Friday, the sheriff’s office recounted the events: “On Sunday, October 19, 2025, District 1 patrol officers responded to an aggravated battery call and found Roger Borkum severely beaten.” He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries after four days.

As detailed in the arrest report, Borkum was discovered on the ground, surrounded by a significant amount of blood, with a trail extending along the sidewalk. Surveillance footage allegedly captured the three teenagers approaching Borkum before launching their attack.

“They crouched down, as though they were sneaking up on the victim,” a law enforcement officer alleges in the report. “I observed all three suspects kick and stomp on the victim. After battering the victim, the suspects fled the crime scene.”

A robbery was reported near the scene, which the teens also allegedly committed, and cops began investigating both incidents. A witness came forward and told police they saw Borkum being attacked and could identify the assailants. Authorities used their description of the teens to track them down and take them into custody, per the arrest report.

“Post Miranda, Marcavion Lacey advised there was a white dude ‘laying’ and he said something to [one of the suspects],” the report alleges. “He said [one of the suspects] stopped walking and began questioning the victim. While [the suspect] was interacting with the victim, Lacey observed the victim fall on the ground.”

Lacey allegedly told police that he and the others, whose names are redacted in the report, “weren’t trying to kill the victim.” One of the teens told police during questioning that Borkum “dissed” his “dead homies,” but he was unable to provide their names.

Surveillance video shows the group “rummaging” through a backpack that Borkum had on him after attacking him before fleeing, according to the arrest report. They returned about 20 minutes later and started assaulting him again with “multiple” kicks, the report says.

“This case is a heartbreaking reminder of how young some offenders have become and how devastating the consequences are for victims, families, and the surrounding community,” the sheriff’s office said in its press release.

“JSO will continue to work closely with the state to get justice for Mr. Borkum,” the office added. “Parents and guardians, get involved in your children’s lives. There are resources available for kids to keep them out of trouble. Take action before it’s too late.”

Borkum’s obituary says he was married before becoming homeless and his wife died while on a humanitarian trip to Africa. “He himself narrowly escaped death … in late July 2001,” the obit says, in reference to his World Trade Center job. “His coworkers perished on Sept. 11.”

Cops said Curry, the youngest attacker, was just 12 years old when the assault occurred; Pope was 16. All three suspects were still behind bars Sunday.