‘I tried to kill him’: Man chops off victim’s hand with machete in Miami Gardens, police say

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida. – A man was arrested Monday after police said he chopped off another person’s hand with a machete in Miami Gardens.

According to a police report from the Miami Gardens Police Department, Tyrone Arthur Rhyant, 54, of Opa-locka, is charged with one count each of attempted premeditated murder with personal injury and domestic violence/violation of a restraining order.

While on routine patrol shortly before 4 a.m. near the intersection of Northwest 207th Street and Northwest 37th Avenue, police said they noticed two sandals on the street and a man walking up and down the sidewalk, raising suspicions of a possible incident.

A witness told police he saw Rhyant walking completely naked southbound on Northwest 37th Avenue. An anonymous driver traveling in the same direction confirmed the witness’s account.

Police later responded to reports of an injured man near the 3700 block of Northwest 207th Street, where they found the victim with a profusely bleeding head and severed hand. Investigators said a bloody machete was found near the scene.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel arrived at the scene and rendered medical aid to the victim before transporting him to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital.

Officers said they found a person matching the victim’s description lying on a nearby couch.

After the suspect was arrested, police said Rhyant confessed to an officer who responded to him, telling him, “Is he dead? I tried to kill him.”

Police took the witness to the location where they said Rhyant was arrested for identification. Authorities said the witness positively identified Rhyant as the person involved in the attack.

Speaking to investigators, Rhyant explained that his wife, who lived near the crime scene, had a permanent restraining order in place that would take effect on December 24, 2023.

A motive for the attack is currently unknown.

As of Tuesday, Rhyant has been held without bail at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.