Cruise ship carnage as 9-year-old 'hit by drunk passenger' after noise complaint

The child is said to be unhurt from the incident, but police have now charged two people in connection with the incident with multiple offences each

Ethan Davies

05:15, 19 Aug 2026Updated 05:15, 19 Aug 2026

File photo of a cruise ship(Image: Getty Images)

A nine-year-old child has allegedly been attack by a drunk couple who 'pushed' into their family's cruise cabin after being asked to quiet down, according to police.

The incident reportedly took place in Florida on Saturday evening (August 15), police in America said. Ohio duo Gannon Jacox, 29, and girlfriend Brooklyn Hicks, 28, are now in custody, reports the New York Post.

Both have now been charged with multiple offences, Brevard County sheriff Wayne Ivey said, who published a statement about the events onboard.

Jacox and Hicks were apparently arguing quite loudly after consuming alcohol, Ivey said. One of the victims then asked the pair to quiet down, sparking a melee.

Hicks apparently didnt like the request so she decided to go confront them. Jacox then decides its a great idea to walk over with his cell phone and start recording the incident as he tells Hicks to beat them up!, Ivey added.

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Gannon Jacox (left) and Brooklyn Hicks (right) have been charged after the cruise ship brawl(Image: Facebook/Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Florida (Official))

The suspects then pushed their way into the victims room, which included a nine-year-old child that was inside the room! As a fight ensued Jacox ends up hitting all three people (including the child) and Hicks was just swinging, hoping one would land.

While none of the alleged assault victims were seriously hurt, Jacox suffered a pretty gross injury to his eye, the statement continued.

Jacox has been remanded in custody on charges of Burglary With A Battery and Child Abuse Without Great Bodily Harm, while and Hicks was charged with Burglary With Battery and Battery-Touch/Strike, Ivey said.

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Brevard County, 40 miles east of Orlando, is home to the Kennedy Space Centre and Port Canaveral, one of the busiest cruise ports on the planet. Cruise ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Norwegian, MSC, Celebrity, and Princess all call there.

The identity of the vessel Jacox and Hicks were guests of has not yet been disclosed.

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