Shocking antisemitic assault sparks outrage while authorities vow zero tolerance for religious hatred.
Two South Florida men, ages 18 and 19, have been arrested and charged with hate-related battery after allegedly targeting a Jewish man in Miami Beach earlier this year.
According to the Miami Beach Police Department, the incident occurred around 1:20 a.m. on January 11 near 41st Street and Collins Avenue in the Mid-Beach neighborhood. The victim was standing with other members of the Jewish community, identifiable by their yarmulkes, when a black 2017 Bentley Bentayga pulled alongside them.
Police reports state that the suspects allegedly shouted antisemitic slurs, including “Jews! Jews!” before one of them sprayed an unknown liquid from a water gun toward the group. The victim reportedly believed the object was a real firearm and feared for his life.
Investigation and Arrest
Authorities said the suspects fled the scene but returned approximately 30 to 40 minutes later, allowing the victim to capture the vehicle’s license plate.
The 18-year-old suspect was located in Miami and taken into custody Thursday evening. Investigators say he identified the 19-year-old as the individual who sprayed the liquid. The older suspect later appeared at police headquarters and admitted to spraying the victim, while claiming the other individual yelled the slurs.
Both were charged with battery with prejudice — a hate crime enhancement under Florida law — and transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
They appeared in court Friday and were each granted bond set at $5,000.
Community Reaction
Officer Christopher Bess, spokesperson for the department, stated that the victims were “in fear for their lives” because of the hate-filled language directed at them.
The incident has drawn concern within Miami’s Jewish community, highlighting ongoing anxieties about rising antisemitism nationwide. Law enforcement officials emphasized that hate-motivated crimes will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
