On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City, destroying both towers and killing nearly 3,000 people. The attacks were part of a coordinated plot that also targeted the Pentagon and involved a hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.
Roger Borkum, 64, a Long Island native, was found severely beaten just before midnight on October 19 in Downtown Jacksonville. Police said three teens kicked and stomped him, returning 20 minutes later to assault him again while rifling through his backpack.
According to the Brookings Smith website, Roger Laurence Borkum was born on March 8, 1961, in Syosset, New York, to David Bernard Borkum and Judith Mae Borkum (née After). He attended Willits Elementary School, Harry B. Thompson Jr. High School, and Syosset High School, graduating in 1979.
Borkum is survived by his sister, Debi Goss, and his brother, Jonathan Borkum, as well as nephews Christopher Imhof and Noah Goss.
Borkum, a widower who was homeless at the time, suffered injuries so severe that blood was “pooled around his head,” leaving a visible trail along the sidewalk, according to arrest documents. He died four days later from his injuries.Authorities swiftly arrested the suspects, Justin Curry, 13, Marcavion Lacey, 19, and Robert Pope, 17. All were indicted for murder on November 20, with Curry having been just 12 at the time of the attack.JSO reports indicate that one of the teens claimed the assault was triggered after Borkum allegedly “dissed” their “dead homies,” though officials did not provide further details. The sheriff’s office described the incident as a “heartbreaking reminder of how young some offenders have become and how devastating the consequences are for victims, families, and the surrounding community,” urging parents to be proactive in their children’s lives.
Borkum, who survived the 9/11 attacks after being let go from his job on the 77th floor of Tower 1, witnessed many coworkers perish. He also lost his wife, Celeste, in 2009 during a humanitarian trip to Africa.