Police say the suspects, ages 13, 16 and 19, are accused in the beating death of Roger Borkum.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said three teenagers have been arrested and charged with murder in the Oct. 19 beating of 64-year-old Roger Borkum near Madison and West Adams streets in downtown Jacksonville. The agency announced the arrests and a grand jury indictment late last week.
Authorities identified the suspects as 13-year-old Justin Curry, 16-year-old Robert Pope and 19-year-old Marcavion Lacey. Police said Pope and Lacey were arrested shortly after Borkum’s death; Curry was indicted by a Duval County grand jury on Nov. 20. Investigators said a witness description helped officers locate the teens within hours of the attack, which police initially handled as an aggravated battery. Borkum, who was found severely beaten just before midnight, died at a hospital four days later. The case now moves through the courts as prosecutors review charging documents and interviews collected by homicide detectives.
Officers were called to the area just before midnight on Oct. 19 on a report of an aggravated battery. Police said they found Lacey nearby and located Borkum with significant injuries. In interviews the next day, Lacey told detectives he and the other two teens battered Borkum after a back-and-forth encounter. Police said he added they “weren’t trying to kill him.” Detectives noted in reports that, at that point in the interview, they had not told Lacey Borkum had died. Investigators also wrote that the group returned to the location multiple times that night and beat Borkum each time, based on witness accounts and statements gathered.
In a separate interview, police said the 16-year-old told detectives he did not know Borkum and alleged the older man “dissed his dead homies” before the beating. JSO said a witness to the violence provided descriptions that led officers to the teens within hours. The agency named Curry, Pope and Lacey after working with the State Attorney’s Office and reviewing surveillance, interviews and reports. JSO called the crime a “vicious attack” and said all three are charged with murder. The office added in a written statement, “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.”
Records released by police say the beating happened near Madison Street and West Adams Street, an area that mixes office buildings, parking lots and service alleys on the edge of downtown’s government core. JSO said the younger teen was 12 years old on the night of the attack but is now 13. Borkum died four days after the assault. Local jail records show Pope and Lacey remained in custody following their arrests soon after Borkum’s death; the sheriff’s office announced Curry’s indictment on Nov. 20 and the case publicly on Nov. 21. Authorities have not released a detailed motive and did not describe any prior connection between the teens and Borkum.
JSO said its homicide unit worked with prosecutors to assemble the case, and detectives referred charging documents to the State Attorney’s Office for review. With Curry’s indictment by a Duval County grand jury on Nov. 20, all three teens now face murder charges in adult court, according to JSO. Court dates had not been posted for initial appearances as of early this week. Prosecutors will determine final charges in the coming weeks after reviewing reports, witness statements and any physical evidence recovered. Police said the investigation remains active as detectives continue to collect and process evidence tied to the late-night assaults.
People who work downtown described a heavier police presence in recent weeks near the corridor where officers responded. A maintenance worker who passed the corner Monday said he noticed fresh flowers tucked against a utility pole and a hand-written note with the victim’s name. “It’s been quiet since, but folks still ask what happened,” he said. The sheriff’s office said it would continue to coordinate with prosecutors and “get justice for Mr. Borkum,” adding that detectives were in regular contact with family members as the case progresses.
As of Tuesday, the three defendants were each charged with murder in the death of Roger Borkum. Prosecutors are expected to file formal charging documents after Thanksgiving week, and a first round of hearings could be set in early December. JSO said additional updates would be provided as court dates are scheduled.
Author note: Last updated Tuesday, November 25, 2025.