x
Breaking News
More () »

WATCH EXCLUSIVE: Thankful to be alive, survivor of violent Southside home invasion speaks of trauma

Jonathan Parker returned home from dropping his son off at his elementary school to find two men in ski masks in his home, marking the beginning of the scariest 40 minutes of his entire life.

Jonathan Parker returned home from dropping his son off at his elementary school to find two men in ski masks in his home, marking the beginning of the scariest 40 minutes of his entire life.

Parker said when he walked into his home there was no sign of forced entry, despite remembering that he locked his doors as he always did. As soon as he entered his kitchen, he saw a man dressed in all black, wearing a ski mask. Another perpetrator was hiding in the laundry room.

Both men immediately tased him, took him down, and beat him.

Parker said all he could think about was his 19-year-old daughter who he knew was in the house.

"The whole entire time this was happening, all I could think of was my daughter; where she was, I didn't know whether they had already tied her up or done something to her or whether she was in her room from being asleep prior and maybe they hadn't seen her yet," Parker said he didn't want to ask them men about his daughter, afraid that they didn't know she was there and she was unharmed at the time.

"It ended up that she was in my bed. They had tied her up and put her in my bedroom," said Parker.

The men beat Parker until he gave them the information to get into his safe so they could steal valuables and guns.

At that point, he tried to escape.

"I ripped the tasers out of my chest and was able to fight my way through that assailant and make it to the front door. By the time I got one foot out the door, the other assailant had come back and shot me in the back with another taser and they both subdued me," Parker said. He was hog-tied and they took turns kicking him in the face and back.

READ MORE | Guns, cash among items stolen in brutal home invasion

The perpetrators stole his keys and his new Ducati motorcycle, which was in the garage, and sped off.

The whole ordeal took 30-40 minutes.

"Which felt like an eternity to me," said Parker.

He was able to wiggle his way to his phone and call 911. His daughter was able to make it to him, not tied to the extent that he was. She brought him a knife and he was able to cut himself free, then his daughter. Luckily, she was physically unharmed.

"This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I wouldn't wish it upon anybody in the entire world," said Parker. He hasn't been sleeping well, he said his family doesn't feel safe.

They want to see the men brought to justice.

During the scuffle, the suspects masks were pulled up slightly. Parker described the men as both white, in their 20s to early 30s with thick country accents. He said one had black hair and another had dark brown hair. He is sure he could pick them out of a police line up.

Parker said he doesn't know why anyone would target him and his family but he feels that these men were career criminals.

"I certainly don't believe this will be the last time," said Parker. Seeing these men caught would bring a sense of peace and security to his family he said is lacking right now.

However, the Parkers have received an outpouring of support from their community and on Facebook as well. Parker's wife posted on Facebook about the incident and since the post has been shared nearly 5,000 times and has thousands of comments. He said even neighbors they have never met have come over to voice their support and sorrow for the traumatic incident.

Parker said he can only thank the men for not killing him. He is thankful to have his life and his daughter's safety.

We have reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for a report on the incident.

Before You Leave, Check This Out