MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A man turned himself in to police Tuesday after they say he allegedly stabbed a fellow gym member at a 24 Hour Fitness in Miami Gardens last month.
According to an arrest report from the Miami Gardens Police Department, Andrew Floyd Rodriguez, 28, faces one count of attempted murder while causing injury.
The stabbing occurred on May 9 outside the 24 Hour Fitness, located at 19731 NW 27th Ave., and the gym closed temporarily after the incident, police said.
When officers arrived at the scene, they spoke with the victim at the front doors of the gym, who said he was suffering at the time from stab wounds to his left underarm, left forearm and left buttock/hip area.
Due to the extent of his injuries, police said the victim was airlifted to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
Detectives said they were not able to speak with the victim because he was rushed to surgery for the injuries sustained during the incident.
The next day, Miami Gardens police officers said they drove to the hospital and spoke to the victim.
While there, the victim told police he arrived at the 24 Hour Fitness in Miami Gardens on the day of the incident, where he is an active member.
While working out inside the gym, police said he was called over by Rodriguez who called him by his name.
While he was in front of Rodriguez, the victim said Rodriguez started saying disrespectful things about his disabled daughter, such as, “You are weak just like your daughter,” according to the report.
Seconds later, a fight broke out between the two men, police said.
During the fight, the victim noticed that he was bleeding from the left side of the chest, left forearm and left buttock area, the report stated.
Following the altercation, the victim said he saw Rodriguez holding a mid-size knife in his hand, according to police.
The victim also said that Rodriguez is known to him because a few months prior, Rodriguez approached him at the same gym, accusing him of trying to have an affair with his girlfriend.
Authorities said the victim used to date Rodriguez’s most recent girlfriend in high school and told police that he advised Rodriguez that he was not trying to have an affair with her because he was already in a committed relationship.
While at the hospital, police said the victim positively identified Rodriguez from a single photo.
Police said after reviewing the gym’s surveillance video, Rodriguez was seen entering the 24 Hour Fitness without using the proper procedures.
Once inside, Rodriguez was seen walking around and looking in the direction where the victim was standing, having a conversation with an unknown person, according to his arrest report.
Additional video also shows Rodriguez going into his gym bag and arming himself with a knife prior to confronting the victim, the report stated.
Investigators confirmed Rodriquez was seen holding the knife in a way to hide it from the victim. Once Rodriguez made contact with the victim, they said the video showed him stabbing the victim in his left underarm, left forearm and left buttock/hip area.
After the stabbing, investigators said Rodriguez was seen following the victim as he left the gym from the front entrance to seek medical attention.
Authorities said additional video surveillance also showed that Rodriguez stopped following the victim after employees from the gym made contact with him to provide medical aid. Rodriguez then went to the rear of the gym, where he fled from the emergency door, authorities said.
Detectives confirmed that Rodriguez invoked his rights and refused to talk to them following his arrest.
As of Wednesday, Rodriguez was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.