Man, 71, stabbed in home, dies at hospital

Police question witness

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 71-year-old man was stabbed about 10 times in his home on Acorn Street early Wednesday morning and died at a hospital, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Channel 4 spoke with a number of people on Acorn Street Wednesday night about Johnnie Albert Holland, who many call "Mr. Johnnie."

Police said Holland was stabbed about 1 a.m. He was taken to UF Health Jacksonville and later died there, police said.

"I wanted to say between 12:45 a.m. and one of my dogs started going crazy. I went outside and saw a whole lot of lights," one neighbor told Channel 4.

"He was considered at that time to be in non-life-threatening condition, when he was taken to (UF Health), but later on this morning we got a call saying he had since passed," said Sgt. Lonnie Mills.

"I find it quite disgusting, pretty low to do that, especially a defenseless elderly man like that. Someone who's kind and wouldn't hurt anyone," said another.

Terry McClain's grandmother lives in the neighborhood where Holland was killed.

"It's a bad period, but 71-year-old man that's bad, I was about to stop and ask what happened, god," said Terry McClain.

Homicide investigators were called to the man's home in the 1200 block of Acorn Street in Northwest Jacksonville about 1 p.m.

One person is being questioned as a witness.

"We have information leading us in a direction, but like I said, my guys are downtown talking with a witness at this point," Mills said.

Crime scene technicians were seen carrying a broken window to their van.

Neighbors say Holland was quiet, sat on his porch a lot and never really bothered anybody.


About the Author:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.