Kidane Mengesha
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA (WPLF) — A suspect was arrested Saturday in connection with the stabbings of two women in South Beach.
Leigh-Ann Martinez, 21, was having a girls’ night out with Belkin Gutierrez, 20, and three other friends. The women finished dinner at TGI Friday’s at Fifth and Ocean just after 9 p.m. and headed for their car.
Martinez said a man followed them for five blocks until they reached First Street, where he attacked them.
An arrest report identified the man as 24-year-old Kidane Mengesha. The report said Mengesha grabbed Martinez and hit her in the face. Investigators said Martinez hit Mengesha back, and a fight broke out. Gutierrez tried to help her friend by hitting Mengesha, who then pulled out a knife, according to the arrest report.
Police said Mengesha stabbed Gutierrez five times, in the head, torso and arm, and stabbed Martinez once in the leg. According to the report, two men intervened, hitting Mengesha, and he ran away.
“It was a big cut — a really big cut. I freaked out and passed out on the sidewalk,” Martinez said.
Martinez said the cut was about 7 inches long. It took 25 stitches to sew up.
Gutierrez is still being treated at a hospital.
Police said they took Mengesha into custody shortly after the attack at South Pointe Park. He faces charges of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery. A judge set his bond at $50,000.
Martinez said she and her friends did nothing to provoke the attack and that Mengesha said nothing to them before he pulled the knife.
“It’s really unfair, really unfair,” Martinez said.
Police said Mengesha has no criminal record. He is from Ethiopia and came to the U.S. three years ago.
He is being held on $50,000 bond.