Man beaten to death with golf clubs in ‘random act of violence’ at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in West Palm Beach: police

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – A suspect is in custody after allegedly murdering a man on a Florida golf course on Monday using his own golf clubs in what police said was a “random act of violence.”

Junior Boucher, 36, faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of a man, identified by police as 65-year-old Brian Hiltebeitel, at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in West Palm Beach.

According to a statement from Palm Beach Gardens police, a witness said he heard the victim screaming “he’s trying to kill me” while running from Boucher, who was allegedly swinging a golf club.

According to police, Boucher allegedly began beating Hiltebeitel with a golf club, hitting him in the head, and then chased him toward a pond on the first hole of the golf course.

According to the police report, he continued to beat Hiltebeitel in the pond, and while in the water “he jumped on Hiltebeitel and it looked like he was choking him.”

When Hiltebeitel was no longer moving, Boucher allegedly punched him in the head several more times, police said in an affidavit, before getting out of the water and “undressing.”

Officers pulled Hiltebeitel from the pond, where he was observed to have “numerous deep lacerations to the back of his head and body.”

According to the police, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Dominick Pape said Boucher was arrested “after a short foot pursuit” and found “naked.” According to the statement, Boucher tried to escape from police and was arrested “only after using an electronic control weapon.”

Pape said police are not currently aware of any connection between the suspect and the victim and are still working to determine a motive.

“At this time, it does not appear that Boucher had any legitimate purpose for being on the golf course. It appeared to be a random act of violence in which Boucher used the victim’s golf clubs as weapons and brutally attacked the victim, ultimately killing him, Papa said.

About an hour before the incident, police said Boucher’s family had reported him missing.

Boucher has an extensive criminal history, including arrests on drug charges and domestic battery.