Miami Man Threatens Mother and 9-Year-Old With Knife, Shouting ‘I’m Going to Cut Your Throat!’ Outside Hotel
MIAMI, FLORIDA – A terrifying scene unfolded outside a Miami hotel when a 38-year-old man allegedly pulled a knife on a mother and her 9-year-old son, shouting that he would “cut their throats.” The horrifying encounter left the child screaming for help as the suspect, identified as Jorge Felix Larrea Diaz, prowled the area with a long brown knife in his hand.
The chilling incident happened Friday afternoon outside the Barlington Hotel, according to a police affidavit.
‘Somebody Is Trying to Kill Us!’ the Boy Screamed
According to police, the suspect approached the mother and her son around 4:20 p.m., demanding to know where the woman’s husband was. When the frightened child realized what was happening, he sprinted toward the lobby yelling, “Somebody is trying to kill us!”
“I am going to cut your throat and your son’s throat,” Larrea Diaz allegedly said in Spanish while waving the knife, as later translated by police.
Inside the hotel lobby, the woman’s husband heard the commotion and rushed out to protect his family. What he saw sent him scrambling for anything to defend himself.
Husband Confronts Armed Man in Lobby
When the husband emerged, he reportedly saw Larrea Diaz gripping the knife in his right hand. The suspect allegedly turned his anger toward him, shouting, “I’m going to kill you!”
“He picked up a small bicycle in self-defense,” the affidavit reads.
That act may have saved lives. Police say the suspect backed off and fled the lobby moments later. Officers later confirmed that the suspect was staying as a guest at the same hotel where the family was lodging.
Police Arrest Suspect After Scary Chase
Surveillance footage from the hotel captured the terrifying moment Larrea Diaz threatened the family. Although the weapon wasn’t recovered, officers quickly identified the man thanks to the victims’ statements and the footage.
When police located Larrea Diaz later, he had changed his clothing — but the family immediately recognized him. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
So far, police have not determined why Larrea Diaz was searching for the woman’s husband or what motivated the violent outburst.
Community Reacts: ‘Pure Evil, That Child Will Never Forget It’
As news of the arrest spread online, outrage and fear rippled through social media.
“That poor boy will never sleep the same again,” one Facebook commenter wrote.
“This is pure evil. Imagine threatening a mother and child like that,” another said.
Residents living near the Barlington Hotel expressed frustration that a guest with a weapon was allowed to stay on the premises unchecked. The hotel did not respond to media inquiries.
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