Randolph Ragan Hicks
White male
Age at time: 41
Weapon: oar
Charles Wesley Hammonds
White male
Age at time: 45
Weapon: knife
Defendant photo: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, 2011
Case type:
Argument turned violent
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Disputed
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2007
Location details: SeaWalk in Jacksonville Beach, Duval County, on Jan. 22, 2007
What happened: Charles Wesley Hammonds, a homeless man who had more than a dozen arrests in his past, stabbed another homeless man on the public beach walkway in Jacksonville Beach. Hammonds said he was defending himself from Randolph Ragan Hicks, who he said smashed his head with an oar after a dispute over beer. Hicks said Hammonds ambushed him by pretending to shake his hand then slashing him with a knife. Hicks had a collapsed lung but survived. Witness testimony clashed with Hicks' version of events. And Hammonds had a head injury consistent with being hit by a blunt object.
The outcome: Charges dropped. Based on the witnesses' accounts, the knifing could be viewed as acceptable use of force, prosecutors said.
Case decision made by: Prosecutor
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
 |
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Was the victim armed? |
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
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Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
|
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Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
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Was the defendant on his or her property? |
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Did someone witness the attack? |
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Was there physical evidence? |
|
Source: Times Union, March 10, 2007.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
