VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Arenthius “Dante” Jenkins is accused of attacking and savagely beating two men with hammers on April 22, in Daytona Beach.
Already facing charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault, Jenkins was charged with second-degree murder when one of the victims, Billy Ford, died Tuesday.
The second victim, Terry Gross, is expected to recover.
Jenkins' family claims the man suffers from untreated mental illness and they were trying to get him help the day of the attack.
In a statement released by his attorney, Jenkins’ brother, Diwon Barron, said the attack could have been prevented if his brother had been given the care he needed.
Read: Statement from Jenkins' family
“My brother is not a bad person, nor a violent person,” Barron wrote. “He was suffering and seeking help.”
“My mother and I tried desperately to avoid letting a situation such as this occur and sought necessary medical help for Dante,” he continued. “Unfortunately, we were denied this assistance on two separate occasions and this tragedy has occurred and shaken our family to the core.”
The statement did not elaborate on where the family sought treatment for Jenkins, or why they were denied.
His brother’s mental state did not lessen the tragedy of what happened, Barron said.
“Having just heard the news of the passing of Mr. Billy Ford, myself and my family send out prayers to him and his family in these undeniably hard and trying times,” he said. “Prayers are also sent to Terry Gross and his family.”
Barron said his family was also praying for his brother, “who is an unfortunate victim in this matter due to his mental health issues and the care he needed being denied.”
Jenkins has been arrested 16 times since 2000 on charges involving grand theft, drugs and domestic violence, court records show.
He was being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail.
Barron ended his statement by asking the public to remain open minded.
“Please respect our family and our privacy during this time, and allow all of the facts to come to light prior to making any preconceived judgments,” he said.