A Florida man was arrested after attacking and killing a golfer in a bizarre and random assault at a West Palm Beach golf course.
Florida man arrested for murder
Using the victim’s own golf clubs as weapons, the alleged assailant also held the victim underwater in a pond, leaving stunned bystanders horrified.
Identified as Junior Boucher, aged 36, the suspect now faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 65-year-old Brian Hiltebeitel, according to officials.
The incident unfolded at the Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, as detailed in a police report.
Officers arrived on the scene just after 1 p.m. on Monday following a series of 911 calls describing a violent altercation.
Police found Hiltebeitel’s body near a pond when they arrived, while Boucher—who reportedly had stripped down—was seen fleeing from the area.
Despite multiple commands to stop, Boucher attempted to evade the officers and was eventually subdued with a stun device before being taken into custody, the report stated.
Witness accounts describe a chilling scene. One individual playing golf said they saw Hiltebeitel shouting, “He’s trying to kill me,” as he backed away from an aggressive Boucher, who was armed with a golf club.
The confrontation escalated as both men fell to the ground, with Boucher striking the victim repeatedly with the club, according to court filings.
Suspect chased victim down with golf club
At some point during the chaos, Boucher reportedly armed himself with additional golf clubs and pursued Hiltebeitel toward a nearby pond.
Witnesses allege that once the two men were in the water, Boucher appeared to subdue Hiltebeitel by choking him.
The suspect then reportedly exited the pond, retrieved another golf club, and struck the unresponsive victim multiple times before removing his clothes and attempting to walk off.
Officers on-site pulled Hiltebeitel out of the water and attempted to administer aid.
However, responders noted significant wounds to his head and body, confirming him deceased at the scene.
Boucher was arrested and transported to the hospital before being transported to jail.
Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Dominick Pape addressed the situation during a briefing, stating there seemed to be no logical reason for Boucher to be at the course in the first place.
“This appears to be a random act of violence where Boucher used the victim’s golf clubs as weapons and viciously attacked the victim, ultimately killing him,” he remarked.
Pape said police are trying to find a connection between the two men. “We’re still looking through the leads,” he commented. “We’re still interviewing people at the scene. We don’t know (the motive) yet.”
Prior to the murder, the suspect requested that police remove him from their home over domestic violence and aggressive behavior.
It’s unclear if police ever made contact with Boucher, but the family reported him as a missing person the same day.
Florida man arrested at golf course had a criminal record
During the press conference, Pape also disclosed Boucher’s lengthy criminal record, which spans back to 2006.
The charges range from drug possession to domestic battery, including an incident in 2022 involving eluding authorities and resisting arrest.
Additional reports from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office unveil another unsettling episode where Boucher allegedly placed a K9 officer in a chokehold and tried to gouge its eye out during a chase.
Following that altercation, Boucher served over seven and a half months of jail time and completed community service as part of a plea arrangement.
The suspect is currently being held without bail and reportedly cited “witchcraft” during recent court proceedings, with his next scheduled appearance set for December 26.
