Homeless Woman Stabs Woman Inside Restaurant During Argument Over Money: Report

Two women involved in a street confrontation in Florida brought their dispute inside a local restaurant, resulting in a violent stabbing, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office (MDSO).

The arrest report obtained by PEOPLE indicates that the women were panhandling outside Fritanga Pinolandia on Wednesday, November 26. The situation escalated when one woman allegedly declined to give money to the other.

Inside the restaurant, the altercation intensified, and Damaris Rodriguez, 22, reportedly attacked the victim with scissors, striking her multiple times in the shoulder and back. Rodriguez was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

This arrest occurred 13 days after Rodriguez had been released on her own recognizance following a prior cocaine-possession arrest just two blocks from the restaurant.

Incident Details

According to the arrest affidavit, Rodriguez, who is listed as homeless, was observed fleeing the scene by Deputy Charles Castillo. She was apprehended shortly after. Officers reported that she claimed the attack was self-defense, alleging the victim had been abusive toward her.

The victim, treated at Jackson Ryder Trauma Center for a laceration on her right shoulder blade, described to detectives that Rodriguez had been panhandling outside the restaurant and appeared to be seeking money to purchase illegal substances. When refused, Rodriguez reportedly became agitated, cursed, and followed the victim inside before stabbing her.

Security footage captured the confrontation, showing Rodriguez aggressively approaching the victim with scissors in hand. The video shows her using multiple downward stabs while yelling threats.

In her own statement to police, Rodriguez admitted to producing scissors from a brown pillow and repeatedly stabbing the victim before fleeing, dropping her pillowcase and bag as authorities arrived. Detectives later recovered the scissors inside a blood-stained bag.

Rodriguez was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for booking.

Community Concerns

Restaurant manager Bernardo Ruiz told CBS News Miami that incidents like this are part of a larger problem with homelessness in the area. He emphasized that local businesses are struggling due to these ongoing safety issues and that law enforcement intervention has been insufficient.

Fritanga Pinolandia is currently closed, and PEOPLE has reached out to the restaurant for comment.

Author: Sophia Brooks