TEQUESTA, Fla. (WCTV Eyewitness News) – Authorities in Florida say a man who may have been on a hallucinogenic drug fatally stabbed a married couple, biting off part of the man’s face before wounding a would-be rescuer.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said Tuesday that deputies captured 19-year-old Florida State University student Austin Harrouff as he was biting the dead man’s face in their driveway in Tequesta, an affluent coastal community north of Palm Beach, Monday night.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office says that John Joseph Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Karen Mischon, 53, were the victims killed by Harrouff.
Deputies say Harrouff had no known connections to the victims and and the attack was random and unprovoked.
Deputies found Harrouff on top of Stevens and it took several attempts, K-9s and a taser to pull him off, according to Sheriff Snyder. Snyder said they didn’t shoot Harrouff out of concern of also striking the victim.
“The suspect in this case was abnormally strong,” Snyder said, making him think Harrouff was on drugs. He said hospital blood tests showed no signs of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin or other common drugs; it will take longer to test for less common hallucinogenic drugs such as flakka or bath salts.
Snyder told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that Harrouff is currently hospitalized in grave condition.
Sheriff Snyder said prior to the attack, Harrouff had joined his family for dinner at a nearby Duffy’s, a popular sports bar and restaurant. Authorities say Harrouff stormed out of the restaurant, apparently agitated about slow service. His parents were so worried by his behavior that they called police and some of his fraternity brothers in a futile attempt to find him.
About 45 minutes later, he apparently targeted the couple at random, the sheriff said.
FSU has confirmed that Harrouff is currently enrolled at the school. He was expected to return for the fall semester as a sophomore, majoring in exercise science.
FSU Police Maj. Jim Russell says the department has reached out to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office to offer any assistance if needed.
Russell says FSUPD has had no prior contact with Harrouff.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office press conference can be viewed below:
