Chaotic Confrontation at Miami Gardens Gym Ends in Stabbing; Suspect Arrested
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – A violent altercation at a South Florida gym culminated in a stabbing, leaving one man injured and another under arrest. The disturbing incident was captured on camera, providing a shocking glimpse into the events that transpired.
The Incident
On a seemingly ordinary evening in May, chaos erupted at the 24 Hour Fitness located at 19371 NW 27th Ave. Miami Gardens Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were called to the scene around 6 p.m. following reports of a fight that escalated into a stabbing.
According to police, the suspect, 28-year-old Andrew Rodriguez, entered the gym with the intention of provoking a confrontation. Surveillance footage shows Rodriguez entering without signing in and then retrieving a knife from his gym bag. After a brief verbal exchange with another man, the situation quickly turned violent.
The Confrontation
The video captures the intense physical struggle that ensued. Rodriguez and the victim began punching each other and rolling on the floor, delivering blows to the face and body. The altercation took a dangerous turn when Rodriguez pulled out the knife and stabbed the other man multiple times in the chest, forearm, and hip.
The arrest report reveals that the fight started after Rodriguez made disparaging remarks about the victim’s disabled daughter, telling him, “You are weak just like your daughter.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses at the gym were stunned by the violent outbreak. One witness recounted the moment the stabbing occurred, saying, “I heard commotion and I turned around and saw them fighting. I just saw the guy sitting next to me stab the guy in the ribs.”
Another witness described the aftermath: “The guy was stumbling, trying to get away, and the man who stabbed him ran to grab his stuff to leave. His whole arm was covered in blood.”
Surveillance footage shows the bloodied victim running toward the front door, leaving a trail of blood, while Rodriguez fled through a rear exit with his shirt stained in blood.
Police and Rescue Response
Body camera footage obtained documents the police response. Officers found the victim in severe pain, and two off-duty officers, who were at the gym to work out, applied pressure to his wounds while awaiting rescue crews.
The victim was airlifted to Aventura Hospital’s trauma unit due to the severity of his injuries and is currently recovering.
The Search and Arrest
Following the stabbing, Rodriguez was seen on drone footage running shirtless through a nearby apartment complex. Police launched an extensive search to apprehend him.
“Someone take each side of the complex,” an officer directed during the search.
Nearly a month after the incident, Rodriguez surrendered to Miami Gardens Police. He did not provide a motive, but the victim indicated there was lingering animosity over an ex-lover.
Rodriguez is now behind bars, facing charges of attempted murder. His trial is scheduled for October.
Miami Gym Stabbing
This incident highlights the potential for everyday settings to become sites of unexpected violence. As Rodriguez awaits trial, the community grapples with the aftermath of the shocking event that disrupted their sense of safety.
