Mayor of town where Trayvon Martin died carjacked outside home
SANFORD, Fla. - The mayor of the town that gained international notoriety by the killing of Trayvon Martin was carjacked outside his house early Saturday morning after having a gun shoved in his mouth, according to officials.
Two suspects have been arrested, and a third remains at large.
Jeff Triplett told CBS affiliate WKMG in Orlando he had just returned from visiting a friend when he was approached by the three men around 2:14 a.m. on Saturday.
Triplett said they shoved the gun in his mouth and his ear at one point during the robbery.
"This is a very scary situation. I'm the father of two and I've been married for 20 years this year," Triplett told WKMG. "I'm lucky to be standing here having this conversation."
Police say the thieves made off with Triplett's wallet and Mercedes Benz.
Triplett was able to give enough information on his attackers for police to quickly locate and arrest suspects Jermine Jacques Horne, 18, and 17-year-old Demarcus Paige. A third suspect remains at large.
"Being a victim of a crime is unnerving, yet it was reassuring to witness both speed and diligence from the Sanford Police Department," Triplett said. "It is disheartening when this type of crime takes place in the city of Sanford. I encourage the community, its businesses and the Police Department to continue to work together and stop this type of violence."
The small Florida community of Sanford and Mayor Triplett shot to international attention in 2012 when George Zimmerman shot and killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin at The Retreat at Twin Lakes, a gated community in the town.
Triplett said at the time he was concerned by the fact that Zimmerman wasn't arrested immediately, but he initially stood opposed to the firing of the town's controversial police chief.