MIAMI (WSVN) - A Brickell hotspot suddenly turned into a crime scene after, Miami Police said, a restaurant employee stabbed his supervisor at The Shops at Mary Brickell Village.
Miami Police announced on Wednesday afternoon that both the victim and assailant were employed at a restaurant called Dirt, and a dispute led to the incident just before 11 p.m. The police report, however, does not name a suspect, though an offense of attempted murder is listed.
They are still searching for that employee.
Officials said the subject went to great lengths to conceal the crime prior to the actual stabbing inside the restaurant.
The employee got into a fight with her supervisor, identified as 23-year-old Jahmal Donovan, at the restaurant. According to witnesses, about 10 minutes later, she returned with a chef’s knife and attacked the victim, late Tuesday night.
“This is something out of almost like a movie,” said Miami Police Cmdr. Freddie Cruz.
Cellphone video captured witnesses by a Christmas tree screaming after seeing the victim lying on the floor at Mary Brickell Village located near Southwest 10th Street and South Miami Avenue.
Police said witnesses told them the subject unplugged the surveillance system and cut the light cords in an effort to avoid any video capturing the scene.
According to a report, the woman “entered the back office and began to unplug the power cables to the surveillance cameras and turn off the switches on the electrical panel, turning off the restaurant’s lights.”
That’s when officials said she went after Donovan.
The report goes on to say the subject “unwrapped the cook knife from the cloth, she then stabbed the victim once in the middle of his chest.”
Police said the woman stabbed Donovan in the back as he tried to get away.
“It’s very concerning because obviously I don’t think the intention was just to stab the victim,” said Cruz, “I think it was to take the victim’s life.”
Somehow, Donovan made it out of the restaurant before he collapsed near a large Christmas tree at the front of the Mary Brickell Village complex.
Buster Cox said he was working at Blue Martini when he heard people screaming down below.
“A cop was there, some guy kept screaming, and I started rolling on my camera,” said Cox.
“I saw a man on the ground,” Cox added. “His friends were shirtless because they took off their shirt in order to stop the blood.”
The subject stabbed the victim in the chest and shoulders before fleeing.
“He was definitely not looking good,” Cox said. “They just kept saying, ‘Stay with me, man. Stay with me. Don’t go anywhere.’ It was pretty intense.”
Officers said he was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. However, Donovan is expected to make a full recovery.
Police are still looking for that attacker. If she is arrested, she will likely be charged with attempted murder.
“We’re putting this puzzle together, and I believe very strongly we’re close to making an arrest,” said Cruz.
If you have any information on the subject’s whereabouts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.