Delores L. Walker, Free Press Reporter

A late night walk turned into a night of horror Saturday, Aug. 2, for one Mayo resident and his friend when he was brutally beaten by three juveniles after an argument escalated into more than just an exchange of words.



According to Sgt. John Young, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Keith E. Rainey, 16, Rodgers J. Lewis, 17, and Mark A. Massey, 17, Mayo were arrested Aug. 5 and charged with aggravated assault, a second degree felony.



The three Lafayette High School students were held at the County Jail until the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) arrived Tuesday afternoon to escort them to the DJJ facility in Gainesville where they are being held. Young said they would remain there until the next available court date.



The investigation into the Saturday night incident is being conducted by Lafayette County Sheriff’s Investigator Sgt. John Young, Resource Officer Alan Ellis and Deputy Travis Boatright.



Young said according to the victim, Timothy L. Bryan, 43, and his friend Alice Bryan also of Mayo, were walking on Mills Street in south Mayo and approached the Rainey home to talk to Amanda Rainey.



Bryan’s account to the Sheriff’s Office was that Amanda Rainey’s son Keith Rainey, opened the door and when Bryan asked to speak to his mother, Rainey said she wasn’t home. According to Bryan words were exchanged that started an argument. In the report Rainey accused Bryan of making derogatory remarks against his mother. The argument rapidly became violent when Rainey struck Bryan repeatedly about the face and head. Bryan stated that he turned to run but was unable to escape Rainey and his two friends who had joined in beating Bryan.



“Bryan said he tried to escape from his attackers, but as he fell to the ground they continued to pound him with blows and kicks to his head, face and arms,” Young said.



The report given by Bryan also stated that Alice Bryan was desperately pleading with the three attackers to “please stop” but they ignored her cries. Young said she told them she feared for her life and felt like they would attack her as soon as her friend was no longer alive.



The events came to a close when, according to the sheriff’s report, a Mayo volunteer fireman was on his way home by way of Mills Street. According to Alice Bryan, when the car lights of the fireman’s approaching vehicle came near the scene, Massey, Lewis and Rainey jumped into a vehicle parked at the Rainey home and fled.



“I stopped the fireman and he called 911,” Alice Bryan said.



The jail log records the time of the 911 call as 10:20 p.m. Sgt. Vickie Ducksworth and CO Pat Pickles received the call and dispatched Deputy Travis Boatright to the scene. According to Boatright’s report when he arrived the victim was down on the ground in front of the First Assembly of God Church located directly across from the Rainey residence. Boatright was soon joined by Sheriff Carson McCall and the Lafayette EMS who made the decision to call TruamaOne to fly Bryan to Shands Trauma Center at Jacksonville.



According to a family member Bryan is home but is still facing reconstructive surgery.