Surveillance video shows the moment a former college football quarterback threw a 21-year-old man over a barricade in Jacksonville Beach in August, leaving him with serious head injuries.
The footage provided by the Jacksonville Beach Police Department shows Seth Agwunobi, 22, a graduate of Temple University, hoisting Connolly Byrnes and dumping him over the railing.
Authorities said Byrnes landed on his head, suffering severe head injuries.
Witnesses at the scene told police Byrnes had rejected Agwunobi’s advances that night.
Wearing a white T-shirt, Agwunobi, who had several drinks that evening, can be seen milling about in front of Mango’s Beach Bar after dropping Byrnes.
Several security staffers and bystanders can be seen tending to Byrnes as he lies motionless on the rain-slicked concrete.
Agwunobi — the son of former Florida Secretary of Health John Agwunobi — told police that Byrnes made derogatory remarks towards him, and that he had been called a “f—–” at some point that night.
An incident report does not specify who allegedly made the remark or when.
Agwunobi, who previously worked at the PGA in Ponte Vedra Beach, is now facing a felony battery rap and is out on bail.
His attorney, Jessica Goldsborough, has not responded to requests for comment on the case.
Byrnes’ family told The Citizen this week that he will remain at a rehab facility for several months and that his long-term outlook is unclear.
Byrnes had a portion of his skull removed after the injury to relieve pressure on his brain.
His mother, Lizzie Byrnes, said that he was initially unable to breathe on his own or speak, but has since made progress on both fronts.
