Man Dies at Brandon Hospital After Hammer-Wielding Assailant Strikes

A Tampa man was pronounced dead at Brandon Regional Hospital this week after an assailant wielding a hammer struck him multiple times in a neighborhood in Thonotosassa, according to a report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Crisis negotiators with the sheriff's office SWAT team were called to the scene after Jarrett Kyle Brooks, 27, of 6427 Black Dairy Road, Lot No. 5, Thonotosassa, fled the scene and barricaded himself in his home, refusing to surrender to deputies.

He was charged with second-degree murder with a weapon.

Brooks reportedly struck Jonathan Acree, 48, of 3601 East Fern St., while he was standing in the front yard of Lot No. 9, talking to a friend. The incident reportedly occurred Dec. 15 at about 1:45 p.m.

According to the sheriff's report, "Brooks approached Acree from behind and struck Acree in the head and neck multiple times with a hammer." Brooks then fled to his residence, "where he barricaded himself and refused to surrender to deputies."

At about 4:30 p.m., after attempts over a couple hours to get Brooks to respond, "chemical agents were shot into the residence and within several minutes Brooks walked out of his residence and surrendered."

Brooks had been in the trailer alone.

A motive for the attack was under investigation.

There were no other injuries.

During the standoff, about 100 residents were temporarily evacuated from their homes.