NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 27-year-old man with cerebral palsy was being treated at Bert Fish Medical Center for defensive stab wounds to his hands and arms by three men this afternoon who forced their way into his residence armed with handguns and one of them with a knife, New Smyrna Beach police said.
The men burst into the victim's residence through a rear door, 525 Mary Ave., at 12:42 p.m. and stabbed him repeatedly while brandishing handguns, police said.
Clifford Tindle, 27, was being treated for non-life threatening stab wounds to his hands and arms.
"We do not believe he was the intended target of this home invasion," police Sgt. Christopher Roos said, based on an initial on-scene investigation, adding the victim has a roommate who wasn't there. "Mr. Tindle stated that three unknown male assailants forced entry into his home, via the rear door. Once inside the home, the assailants continually stated to the victim, “Where’s it at” and when he told them he did not have anything, they physically attacked him. The victim received multiple stab wounds on his hands and arms during the attack. The victim also stated that the other two suspects were armed with handguns."
Roos said the victim's wounds appeared to be defensive where he was trying to stave off the attack and his mobility was limited not only becaudse of the ceral palsy, but also because he has a partially amputated leg.
Roos said police can only speculate at this point what the intruders were after based on the statement relayed to them by the victim.
The intruders were described as three black men with specific details as follows: The first was 5 feet 9 with a medium, muscular build and close-cut hair. He was armed with a handgun. The second, described as tall, wore a T-shirt over his face and was armed with a knife. The third man wore a skullcap and had a beard and mustache. He, too, was armed with a handgun.
The suspects eventually fled the scene and were unable to be located, Roos said. The New Smyrna Beach Police Investigative Division is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to please call the police department at (386) 424-2220.