Mentally disabled man beaten after complimenting Ga. Bulldogs shirt

By Fran Jeffries

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Publix employee in Jacksonville was attacked after complimenting a man wearing a Georgia Bulldogs T-shirt.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Brothres Ryan (left) and Cade Keys are charged with assault on a mentally challenged Florida man who complimented Ryan Keys' Georgia Bulldogs shirt.

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James Wall, 26, said, “Hey, I like your shirt,” and Ryan Keys responded by punching Wall in the face, according to wokv.com.

The attack happened Friday at the Publix on Duval Station Road, but the details were not made public until recently, according to the website.

Wall told News4Jax.com that he complimented Keys on his Bulldogs T-shirt, and for no apparent reason, Keys was offended by the statement and decided to attack him.

Wall has worked at the store for the past seven years. His family told News4Jax.com that he has the mental capacity of a teenager.

Wall was punched in the face so hard it knocked his two front teeth out; the teeth were found 10 to 12 feet from where he was lying, according to the website.

Police described Keys as 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds. Keys fled the scene and was later arrested at his home and charged with aggravated battery and resisting arrest, according to the website. His brother, Cade Keys, also was arrested for driving the get away car.