West Palm Beach man charged with murder after golf course attack
- A violent confrontation occurred at Sandhill Crane Golf Club involving Junior Boucher and Brian Hiltebeitel.
- Witnesses reported that Boucher attacked Hiltebeitel using a golf club and ultimately choked him in a pond.
- Junior Boucher is now facing a first-degree murder charge and is being held at Palm Beach County Jail.
On Monday afternoon in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a violent altercation took place at Sandhill Crane Golf Club that led to a first-degree murder charge against Junior Boucher, 36. The incident was reported through multiple 911 calls at around 1:22 p.m., where witnesses described seeing Boucher attacking Brian Hiltebeitel, aged 65, with a golf club. According to the accounts of witnesses on the scene, an erratic confrontation escalated as Boucher swung the club at Hiltebeitel, who reportedly cried out for help, exclaiming that Boucher was trying to kill him. The evidence suggested that the attack was premeditated and brutal, as Boucher struck Hiltebeitel numerous times during the confrontation. Witnesses described the harrowing events in detail, stating that after hitting Hiltebeitel on the ground multiple times with a golf club, Boucher forced his victim into a nearby pond, and continued to beat him while submerging him in the water. After the violent act, Boucher attempted to flee from the scene but was quickly apprehended by responding officers who utilized an electronic control weapon, also known as a Taser. Officers subsequently recovered Hiltebeitel's body from the pond, where he was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. The investigation revealed that the altercation may have stemmed from an underlying dispute or conflict, although details regarding the specific cause remain unclear. The prosecution is treating this case with utmost seriousness, given the violent nature of the crime and the age difference between the two individuals involved. This incident highlights a troubling trend of violence at recreational locations, raising concerns about safety on public and private grounds. Many locals have expressed shock and disbelief that such an aggressive act could occur in a leisure setting where people typically enjoy their time in a relaxed environment. As the case progresses through the legal system, it is likely to attract further media attention, especially considering the peculiar circumstances surrounding the murder charge.