Two women in Florida took a street-side argument inside a restaurant — and the confrontation quickly escalated into a stabbing, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
An arrest affidavit obtained states the women had been panhandling outside Fritanga Pinolandia on Wednesday, Nov. 26, when things turned violent after one woman allegedly refused to give the other money. The dispute moved into the restaurant, where 22-year-old Damaris Rodriguez allegedly began hitting and stabbing the other woman in the shoulder and back.
Rodriguez was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The arrest comes just 13 days after she was released on her own recognizance following an October cocaine possession arrest only two blocks from the restaurant.
Deputy Charles Castillo, who witnessed Rodriguez running from the scene, apprehended her nearby. According to the affidavit, Rodriguez made a spontaneous claim that she acted in self-defense, saying, “It was self-defense, she was abusing me.”
Detectives later interviewed the victim at Jackson Ryder Trauma Center, where she received treatment for a shoulder laceration and a stitch. The victim told investigators she had seen Rodriguez panhandling outside the restaurant and believed she was seeking money for drugs. She said Rodriguez became irritated when people refused to give her cash, started cursing to herself, and then followed the victim inside before attacking her.
Viral video from the incident shows the two women in a tense standoff inside the restaurant. Rodriguez, identified as homeless in the affidavit, is seen approaching the victim with a cutting tool in her right hand before making “multiple downward stabs” toward the victim’s head. In the video, she can be heard yelling explicit insults and threatening, “I’m going to kill you,” according to police documents.
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In a Mirandized statement, Rodriguez allegedly told detectives she grabbed scissors from inside a brown pillow and “took multiple stabs” at the victim’s head before running off and dropping her belongings as police arrived. Detectives later retrieved the items, including a blood-covered brown leather bag containing the scissors.
Rodriguez was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Restaurant manager Bernardo Ruiz told CBS News Miami that this is far from the first incident involving violence or disturbances around the business. He said the area’s growing homelessness crisis is overwhelming local establishments.
“This is something that happens in Miami-Dade,” Ruiz said. “We have a huge problem with the homeless, and the police don’t do anything about it. We need help. Our business is getting worse with the situation we have in Florida.”
Well I refuse to give panhandlers any money.In fact I never use cash but so many if these people are able to work .Well imagine they now are armed with knives.Niw I will certainly cross the street when I see them
Why dont you stop voting for Democrats and maybe Miami can get its crime under control. Democrats have basically ruined every large city with their dysfunctional policies and sift on crime policies.