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A Merritt Island man is behind bars facing eight felony charges, including attempted second-degree murder, after a violent Monday afternoon that left his ex-girlfriend hospitalized and a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle damaged.
John Manlio Lucas was arrested on April 7, 2026, following an incident that began around 1:55 p.m. at a KFC located at 155 East Merritt Island Causeway.
According to the arrest affidavit, Brevard County Dispatch received a report that a customer at the KFC had observed an unknown white male beating a woman on the passenger side of a white GMC SUV parked near the drive-through. Investigators say he met up with her to try and reconcile their relationship, and when she refused, he began to strangle her.
Upon arrival, Deputy Tischer located the suspect vehicle in the southwest corner of the parking lot and positioned his marked patrol vehicle behind it. As he approached on foot, Lucas shifted the GMC into reverse and accelerated backward, ramming the patrol vehicle. Tischer and Deputy McCarley both issued verbal commands to stop. Lucas ignored them, continued accelerating into the patrol vehicle, and then drove forward at high speed across a six-lane divided highway toward the Merritt Island Causeway.
Lucas, who had forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle and was behind the wheel, fled with the woman still inside. A few miles away, he drove the vehicle off a bridge into the Barge Canal. BCSO Public Information Officer Tod Goodyear stated investigators believe Lucas intentionally drove into the canal in an attempt to end both their lives.
The victim, seriously injured, was unable to exit the vehicle on her own. Bystanders from a nearby boat pulled her to safety within minutes. Her injuries were reported as serious but not life-threatening, and she was transported to a local hospital.
Lucas was able to exit the vehicle and began swimming west to flee into a wooded area, evading capture for several hours. He was not located until the following day in Merritt Island.
At his initial appearance on April 8, 2026, before Judge Jonathan Skinner, Lucas asked that his $157,500 bond be reduced, telling the court he would wear an ankle monitor. The judge was not persuaded.
“Sir, you fled from law enforcement, crashed into a law enforcement vehicle, and then ended up in the Barge Canal with your victim in the canal. I’m not going to be reducing your charges cost at this time,” the judge said.
Lucas faces the following eight felony charges under Florida law:
The case has been assigned to Judge Charles G. Crawford as a non-capital murder matter. Lucas is represented by the Public Defender’s Office. His arraignment is scheduled for April 30, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at the Moore Justice Center before Judge Kimberly Musselman.
No deputies were injured in the incident.
