A 19-year-old Miami man is in custody after police say a minor argument over spilled beer escalated into a brutal stabbing that left his friend seriously injured.
Moises Mendoza has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence following an incident that unfolded late Sunday night. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the victim, suffering from multiple stab wounds, managed to flag down a police officer shortly after 10 p.m. near Northwest 30th Avenue and Northwest 11th Street.
The victim told officers that the violence began after a long, seemingly normal day spent fishing with friends. The group later returned to a home in Miami to cook the fish they had caught and relax. At some point during the gathering, the victim said he was holding Mendoza’s phone to change the music when he accidentally spilled beer on it.
At that moment, police say, it became the turning point. The affidavit states that Mendoza accused the victim of “intentionally” spilling the beer, and the disagreement quickly grew into a heated argument. Tensions did not cool when the group decided to leave. Another person reportedly offered to drive the victim home, and Mendoza joined them in the car, according to NBC 6 South.
According to investigators, the argument continued during the ride. The situation escalated again when the victim threw beer in Mendoza’s direction. That was when Mendoza allegedly pulled out a kitchen knife with a red handle and began attacking the victim, stabbing him multiple times while they were still inside the vehicle.
Despite his injuries, the victim was able to get out of the car and run toward a nearby officer to seek help. Police then used street cameras to identify the vehicle involved and tracked it to a nearby apartment complex. When officers located the car, they reported seeing blood on the passenger seat and on the rear passenger floor, supporting the victim’s account.
The owner of the vehicle later told police that after the stabbing, he dropped Mendoza off at home. He also claimed he saw Mendoza dispose of the knife and the shirt he had been wearing by throwing them into a garbage can.
Officers went to Mendoza’s residence, where they say he admitted to stabbing the victim. He was arrested and transported to the Miami-Dade County jail, where he remains held without bond. Mendoza has entered a plea of not guilty.
The victim’s current medical condition has not been released, but police confirmed he suffered multiple stab wounds. What began as a casual day of fishing and a backyard cookout has now become a serious criminal case with severe consequences for everyone involved.
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