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Disabled Navy Vet Beaten While Trying to Save Tortured Turtle

Johnnie Beveritt and Ryan Ponder / Twitter
February 18, 2017

A disabled U.S. Navy veteran was attacked and beaten as he tried to save a turtle that two men and a teenager were torturing.

Gary Blough was allegedly beaten in Daytona Beach, Florida on Tuesday by three young men, who are now behind bars, as he tried to save the turtle from them, according to Fox News.

The three suspects were throwing the turtle onto its shell as hard as possible until the Navy veteran intervened, according to Blough and Daytona Beach Police.

Blough said his wife and toddler were out getting the family's mail when they came back crying and said they saw the three suspects killing the turtle.

The veteran asked the suspects to leave the turtle alone and tried to help the animal back into water.

"While I had my head turned, two of them started hitting me in the back of the head and punching me," Blough told WOFL Fox 35. "Next thing I know we're in a scuffle and I'm fighting three of them at the same time defending myself."

The attack on Blough only stopped once others nearby began to see what was happening and the suspects fled.

 

The suspects in the attack are Ryan Ponder, 23, Johnnie Beveritt, 18, and a 16 year-old boy. The 16 year-old was taken to a juvenile facility while Ponder and Beveritt were held on $15,000 bond.

Blough has a severely swollen and purple eye and a bump on the back of his head from the three punching and kicking him.

Authorities told Fox 35 that they believe the turtle died in the water.

Blough's wife, Jennifer, was horrified at the incident.

"My husband, who is disabled, tried to save a poor animal's life and he gets beaten up," she said.

Published under: Navy