FL Teen Stabbed Ex

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL — An 18-year-old high school football player could face multiple charges after police said he brutally stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her mother in a Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant parking lot before cutting his own throat.

Spencer Ross Pearson faces multiple felony charges following the Saturday attack that authorities called an attempted murder-suicide, according to the St. John's County Sheriff's Office.

According to authorities and reports, the stabbing happened Saturday outside Mr. Chubby's Wings at 150 Valley Circle. Madison Schemitz, 17, and her mother, Jaclyn Roge, 43, of Ponte Vedra, were dining at the restaurant when they spotted Pearson sitting at another table, the Florida Times-Union reported.

According to reports, Schemitz had broken up with Pearson months ago. A review of Times-Union archives showed Pearson was a player on the Ponte Vedra High School football team.

Pearson started following and harassing her, so when Schemitz and her mother saw him at the restaurant, they left to avoid him, according to the Times-Union.

Pearson followed the pair to the parking lot and attacked Schemitz, stabbing her at least 15 times, WJXT in Jacksonville reported.

According to reports, Roge attempted to stop Pearson and was stabbed twice. A bystander, identified as Kennedy Armstrong by First Coast News, tried to intervene and was stabbed multiple times.

"After being dislodged, the defendant sliced his own throat several times, telling witnesses he was attempting to kill himself," an arrest warrant obtained by the Times-Union states.

Pearson and the three victims were all hospitalized.

Armstrong told First Coast News he didn't realize until after the incident that he was hurt. He suffered severe injuries to his right hand, including damage to an artery and several ligaments, he told the station.

"You see two girls in trouble getting attacked by a guy, I would hope most people would do the same," Armstrong said on Sunday. "Kudos to the mom. I think she's the real reason that girl is still alive."

According to a GoFundMe page created to raise money for Schemitz and her mother, Schemitz is a "rising senior" at Ponte Vedra High School and a star softball player. A Monday update posted on GoFundMe said Schemitz suffered a spinal cord injury in the attack.

As of Tuesday afternoon, organizers had raised nearly $83,000.

Schemitz's sibling, Tatiana Cruceta, told First Coast News that her sister is currently paralyzed; however, her family is confident she'll recover.

"Madison is a fighter, you know," Cruceta said. "She's going to make it through this, and I know she is going to walk out of this hospital."