PALM COAST, Fla. – Flagler County Sheriff's detectives have identified two suspects in the Saturday night carjacking of a Palm Coast delivery man.
Deputies said 22-year-old Guiseppe Verdone, 22, of Palm Coast, and a female juvenile are believed to have been the two people who attacked 43-year-old Ming Gong when he attempted to make a delivery of Chinese food to 78 Bayside Drive, Palm Coast, which turned out to be a vacant home
Recommended Videos
Deputies said Verdone and his companion called King's Palace, which Gong owns, and placed a delivery order, directing Gong to the vacant home.
Deputies said when Gong arrived at the home, Verdone assaulted him and described himself as a law enforcement officer before handcuffing Gong and placing him in the back seat of his vehicle.
Deputies said the attackers then pushed Gong from the moving vehicle on Palm Coast Parkway near the Palm Coast Community Center.
Deputies said Gong suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville where he underwent surgery and is listed in serious condition.
Deputies said Verdone and the girl headed north and were believed to have committed an armed robbery in St. Johns County later in the evening.
Deputies said Gong's stolen vehicle and the two suspects were located early this morning in Liberty County, Georgia where a chase ensued.
Deputies said the stolen vehicle was stopped in Hardeeville, South Carolina where Verdone and the juvenile girl were arrested.
Deputies said both were being held in the Jasper County Detention Center in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
"The deputies who responded to the scene on Palm Coast Parkway worked with detectives to quickly identify a suspect. Initially, they had to overcome a language barrier with the victim, but they worked through that challenge to put out a timely bulletin for the stolen vehicle. It was good, fast police work and I congratulate them," said Sheriff James L. Manfre.
Verdone, who has been arrested four previous times in Flagler County since 2010, and his accomplice are facing possible charges of kidnapping, aggravated battery, robbery and grand theft, deputies said.
The incident is still under active investigation and no formal charges have been filed locally at this time, but will be when the investigation is completed. The two also face charges in South Carolina, Georgia and St. Johns County, deputies said.
Deputies said Verdone has been arrested in Flagler County eight times. Four as a juvenile. The other four were: May 2010- Burglary and theft: August 2010 - possession or display of a weapon on school property; Make or throwing a destructive device and violation of probation: April 2011- Aggravated assault., carrying a concealed weapon and violation of probation: August 2013-Three counts uttering a forged check and one count of failure to appear.