Duval County Jury Finds Rollins Guilty of Stabbing Man

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Ernest Lee Rollins guilty of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. With the verdict and the court’s determination of Rollins as a Habitual Felony Offender, Rollins faces up to 30 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable London Kite will sentence Rollins at a later date.

On Sept. 11, 2023, Rollins, the victim, and a witness were at the victim’s grandmother’s apartment. Rollins and the victim knew each other because Rollins was in a relationship with the victim’s grandmother. The victim left the apartment but, a while later, the victim knocked on Rollins’ door. The witness was inside with Rollins when the victim knocked. She told police Rollins said he did not want the victim in his apartment. The witness left the apartment and stood on the front porch with the victim when Rollins came outside yelling, “I got something for you.” Rollins went back inside to grab a knife and, when he returned to the front porch, he lunged at the victim and stabbed him. The knife went through the victim’s arm and severed a tendon; officers found the knife in the kitchen sink. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue transported the victim to the hospital where he underwent treatment for his injury. Rollins was arrested on scene and admitted to officers he stabbed the victim.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Luke Dill and Shaina Ruth.