JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 73-year-old Jacksonville woman is in the hospital recovering from serious injuries Monday after her family said she fought off a home invasion at her Westside home Friday night.
According to an arrest report obtained by First Coast News Monday, Karen Brown was at her Westside home around 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, when she heard scratching at her back door.
Brown went to her back patio and saw a man, who the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) later identified as 20-year-old Jeremiah Thompson, holding a package. According to the report, Thompson told Brown a package of hers was delivered to his house, and Brown opened the door to accept the package.
JSO redacted the incident report at this point, but Brown's family told First Coast News the man at her door then lunged at her, beating her and "looking to kill her," according to Brown's niece.
That's when Brown's niece said she fought back, delaying her attacker long enough for neighbors to hear the commotion.
The JSO report then says one of Brown's neighbors started banging on her garage door, which Brown's niece said caused the man to run away.
Thompson was later found by JSO officers, arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder, elder abuse and home invasion robbery.
Brown's niece told First Coast News she received praise from JSO investigators for her bravery in fighting back against the home invader, who they said underestimated Brown.
In a verified GoFundMe, Brown's family said she's currently in the hospital recovering from a small brain bleed, a broken hip and a broken arm from the attack.
Brown's niece said she's currently out of the intensive care unit but faces a painful recovery process.
