Christopher Kane, 30, convicted of Second-Degree Murder
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A Melbourne man has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of a brutal killing involving a crowbar and a firearm. Christopher J. Kane, 30, was convicted of second-degree murder by a jury in February 2025. While the conviction carried a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years, prosecutors pushed for a harsher penalty.
During Kane’s sentencing hearing on Thursday, Assistant State Attorney Christine Babb urged the court to impose a life sentence. Circuit Judge Charles Crawford agreed, pointing to Kane’s prior convictions, which include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to investigators, the incident occurred on April 28, 2020, at a residence on the 1000 block of Garfield Street in Melbourne.
Kane reportedly entered the home and got into a physical altercation with 28-year-old Joshua J. Elzas. During the struggle, Kane allegedly beat Elzas with a crowbar until he was incapacitated and then fatally shot him.
Authorities said Elzas was discovered hours later by other individuals in the house. He was found dead, surrounded by blood and suffering from severe injuries, according to an arrest warrant.
Officials confirmed that neither Kane nor Elzas lived at the residence where the incident occurred.
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