WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A man was arrested after, authorities said, he hit a man believed to be homeless over the head repeatedly with a shopping cart in West Miami-Dade, sending the victim to the hospital.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident happened in the area of Southwest Eighth Street and 122nd Avenue, just after 10:30 p.m., Saturday.
A responding trooper arrived to find Miami-Dade Police and Florida International Police units at the scene.
A witness said he was traveling eastbound on Eighth Street when he saw two men fighting on the median.
“He wanted to kill him. It was just an intensity in his eyes,” said the witness, who asked not to be identified or show his face on camera.
The witness said the suspect dragged the victim onto the roadway and stomped on his head before he grabbed a blue shopping cart.
“With the shopping cart in his hand, lifted up over his head, and slammed it at the individual on the ground,” he said.
The witness said the assailant brought the cart down on the victim’s head three times.
“At that point, my instinct was to reach into my car, grab my gun and hold him at gunpoint,” said the witness.
The witness said he got the attacker to stop and stay at the scene until police arrived.
Paramedics transported the victim to Kendall Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
MDPD officers detained the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Dexter McQueen.
Troopers later placed McQueen under arrest took him to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He faces an aggravated battery charge.
McQueen made his first court appearance on Monday. Despite his attorney’s advice, he constantly interrupted Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer and spoke about his case.
Prosecutors said the victim is not expected to survive the attack.
But if it weren’t for the actions of the driver who witnessed the attack, he may never have been given a fighting chance.
“A lot of gun owners, they play it out in their head, ‘What will I do?’ It’s never what you think,” said the witness. “It was completely different from what I ever expected.”
Authorities have not identified the victim.
McQueen is being held on $100,000 bond.
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