Tragic End for 9/11 Survivor: Homeless WTC Consultant Beaten to Death by Florida Teens

Jacksonville, Florida – November 27, 2025  Roger Borkum—a 64-year-old Long Island native who narrowly evaded the horrors of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks—has been killed in a brutal street assault by three teenagers, authorities confirmed today. The incident, which unfolded on a dimly lit Jacksonville sidewalk more than two decades after Borkum's brush with history, has left family, friends, and officials grappling with the profound irony of a life spared from mass atrocity only to be extinguished by senseless brutality.

Borkum, a former computer consultant, once held a desk on the 77th floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center, where he supported operations for a major firm. Laid off in late July 2001—just six weeks before al-Qaeda hijackers slammed American Airlines Flight 11 into the building—Borkum escaped what would become one of the deadliest days in American history. "He himself narrowly escaped death when a consulting job ended in late July 2001," reads his obituary, a somber testament to the timing that saved his life while claiming the lives of his former colleagues. On that fateful morning, 2,753 people perished in the World Trade Center attacks, their stories forever etched in national memory.

But Borkum's post-9/11 life took a tragic detour. Widowed after his wife's death during a humanitarian mission in Africa, the Syosset-born New Yorker spiraled into homelessness, estranged from family for nearly a quarter-century. By October 2025, he was living on the streets of downtown Jacksonville, a far cry from the bustling financial hub where he once thrived.

The fatal encounter occurred late on Sunday, October 19, around 11:45 p.m., on the 1000 block of North Hogan Street—a gritty stretch known for its urban challenges. According to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Borkum was first approached by the trio of suspects, who allegedly initiated the attack after he "dissed" one of their "dead homies," per statements from one of the teens. What followed was a savage, hour-long ordeal: Surveillance footage and witness accounts describe the group sneaking up on the vulnerable man, kicking and stomping him repeatedly in three separate assaults over the span of 60 minutes.

Patrol officers responding to reports of an aggravated battery discovered Borkum severely beaten, his body battered beyond recognition. He was rushed to UF Health Jacksonville but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide due to blunt force trauma.

Three suspects—Marcavion Lacey, 19; Robert Pope, 17; and Justin Curry, 13—were swiftly arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The involvement of a 13-year-old has drawn particular outrage, highlighting ongoing debates over juvenile justice and the scourge of youth violence in urban areas. Sheriff's officials described the assault as "a vicious attack," with Lacey reportedly confessing details to investigators, including the perceived slight that allegedly ignited the rage. All three remain in custody without bond, as prosecutors prepare for what could be a high-profile case blending street crime with the poignant backdrop of the victim's survivor status.

Borkum's family, who hadn't seen him in 24 years, expressed devastation in a statement released through his obituary. "Roger was a kind soul whose life was marked by resilience and quiet tragedy," they said. "To lose him this way, after he beat the odds once before, is unimaginable." Community advocates in Jacksonville, meanwhile, decried the killing as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the unhoused, calling for expanded mental health resources and outreach programs. 17GEN4.com