Surveillance Video Shows Couple Confronting Suspect in Miami Sexual Assault Case
MIAMI, FL — Newly obtained surveillance footage shows the dramatic moment when a couple attempted to detain a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman inside her Miami apartment.
The suspect, 26-year-old Diontae Blackman, was captured on video being confronted in the lobby of a high-rise at 55 Northeast Fifth Street on August 26, 2024. The victim’s roommate and her boyfriend intervened after the woman reported being attacked inside her unit.
Alleged Assault and Confrontation in the Lobby
Security cameras recorded Blackman entering the building, bypassing security, and taking an elevator to the 35th floor. Video then shows him wandering the hallways before entering the victim’s apartment.
According to police, the 20-year-old woman was sitting on her balcony when she noticed Blackman standing in her kitchen.
“She realizes the suspect was in her kitchen, so she confronts him and says in Spanish, ‘What are you doing here?’” said Miami Police spokesperson Michael Vega.
Blackman allegedly held a broken bottle and gestured across his neck in a threatening motion before forcing the victim into her room. Authorities say he then raped her twice.
When Blackman attempted to leave roughly 20 minutes later, the victim’s roommate and her boyfriend confronted him in the building’s lobby. Surveillance video shows them grabbing him and striking him with a phone in an attempt to restrain him, but he managed to escape.
Repeat Offender Arrested Months Later
Despite the violent nature of the attack, Blackman remained free for four months before being arrested in December.
Authorities confirmed that Blackman is a repeat offender. In 2021, he was arrested for a similar crime at the Lux Brickell Flatiron Building. In that case, the victim screamed, scaring him away. He was convicted of assault but later released.
Blackman now faces multiple charges, including armed sexual battery, kidnapping, and burglary with assault or battery. He remains in custody as he awaits trial.