Florida man arrested for slitting 13-year-old boy's throat in unprovoked Valentine's Day knife attack

A Florida man has been arrested for allegedly slitting a 13-year-old boy's throat while he was walking with his family in Daytona Beach. The incident, which nearly killed victim Sullivan Clarke, occurred on Valentine's Day, authorities said.

Jermaine Lynn Long, 44, was taken into custody on felony aggravated battery charges. He is being held in the Volusia County jail without bail, records show.

According to reports, Clarke was visiting Daytona Beach for the races when Long, armed with a knife, approached him and allegedly launched a blade into the teen's throat. Doctors said Clarke only survived because he barely moved his neck at the time of the attack, escaping a likely fatal injury by just one millimeter.

"I turned at the perfect time," Clarke told Fox 35 Orlando, explaining that he had just turned his head to look at the Slingshot amusement park ride when the suspect attacked, striking the side of his neck.

Jerod Clarke, the victim's father, described the terrifying moment that almost killed his son. "I could see his neck gashed wide open. I could see all the way down to the meat," said Jerod. The boy's mother first thought it was a robbery until she saw Clarke's wounds.

Because Clarke turned his head, the blade failed to puncture a major artery by just one millimeter. "The doctor told him one millimeter deeper, and we'd be having a different conversation," Jerod told the outlet.

Clarke has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Long will remain in custody at least until his next court hearing.