Two teenagers have been arrested in an attack on a McCall’s Tavern employee in Spanish Springs that ultimately claimed his life.
Austin Stevens, 26, died at Ocala Regional Medical Center following the attack Sunday night at Alonzo Avenue and Del Mar Drive.
Brice Hall, 19, of Weirsdale, turned himself in Friday afternoon to Lady Lake police. He is facing a charge of manslaughter.
Nicholas Metcalfe, 18, of Belleview, was arrested on a charge of felony battery at 11:45 a.m. Friday by Lady Lake police. He was booked at the Lake County Jail on $5,000 bond.
Hall, Metcalfe and two friends drove a minivan to the vicinity of Spanish Springs Town Square on Sunday night where they drove recklessly, sped around the square and were spinning tires in the parking lots, according to police. When the group drove by McCall’s Tavern where Stevens was working, they proceeded to yell profanities at employees cleaning the patio area. When the group parked the minivan near TooJay’s restaurant, Stevens left McCall’s Tavern to confront them. While confronting two of the van’s occupants, Hall ran up behind Stevens and punched Stevens on the side of his head causing Stevens to fall to the ground and strike the back of his head on the concrete. While on the ground and unresponsive, Metcalfe kicked Stevens in the face, police said.
When officers arrived on scene, Stevens was alert, mobile, and coherent. Officers observed Stevens to have a bloody nose and they called for an ambulance. Stevens agreed to go the hospital and get checked out but he refused to make a statement about the incident. After being evaluated at The Villages Regional Hospital, it was determined that his injuries were more severe than originally thought and he was transferred to the trauma center at Ocala Regional Medical Center where he later died of injuries suffered in the altercation.
Police said they expect no other arrests in the case.
