Morriston man arrested, charged with the stabbing or bludgeoning of 4 victims

Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO)

Shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2024, numerous 911 calls were received by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Communications Division, reporting that a stabbing had occurred at a home located on SE 132 Court in Morriston, Florida.

Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) deputies arrived at the residence to find two (of four) victims who had suffered multiple stab and slash wounds. The suspect - later identified as 35 year-old Justin Ray Byrant of Morriston, Florida - had fled from the victims' home prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

The stabbing victims told deputies that the suspect had been to their home previously and had borrowed a phone to make a call, so they were able to provide deputies with his name.

Two other victims had escaped from the attacker and fled to a neighboring home. Deputies found them suffering from blunt force trauma-type wounds that had been inflicted by weapons of opportunity (objects found at the location of the attack). These victims also identified the attacker as Bryant, who had also fled from this location prior to the arrival of law enforcement officers.

Suspect Justin Bryant was located by LCSO deputies and Williston Police Department officers in a wooded area near one of the victim’s home. He was taken into custody.

The motive for these random, violent attacks is under investigation. All four victims were transported to nearby trauma units, in stable condition, for treatment of their injuries.

LCSO detectives determined that Bryant was known to all four victims, and he had been “hanging out” with two of the victims earlier in the day.

Detectives pieced together Bryant’s activities from earlier in the day. They learned that he'd taken a vehicle from an associate that he drove to a home about a mile away, where he unsuccessfully attempted to steal a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle. Bryant apparently then walked from that location to the victims' homes.

To enable rapid medical care for the victims and the quick apprehension of the suspect, due to a large crime scene that involved eight seperate locations, it was necessary to coordinate the investigation between several agencies, that included the Levy County Sheriff's Office, Williston Police Department, Levy County Department of Public Safety, and ShandsCair (the University of Florida's Critical Care Transport Program from Gainesville, Florida).

Bryant was booked into the Levy County Detention Center, charged with three counts of attempted murder, one count of aggravated battery, and burglary of a dwelling; his bond was set at none. Additional charges are expected to be filed.