A transgender woman, Felyz Rodriguez, and her partner, Davin Lopez, were assaulted while walking to work in Miami; video of the attack was shared with local media. According to the victims, women in a passing car yelled at them before one occupant used pepper spray and the driver allegedly grabbed Rodriguez's hair and reversed, knocking her down. Both suffered cuts, swelling and burning from pepper spray; the suspects fled and Miami-Dade investigators are probing the case. Rodriguez and Lopez plan to press charges, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident will be treated as a hate crime.
Trans Woman and Partner Assaulted Walking to Work in Miami; Video Captures Attack
A close up view of a parked Miami-Dade Sheriff patrol car.
On Sunday night in Miami, a transgender woman, Felyz Rodriguez, and her partner, Davin Lopez, were assaulted while walking to work. Video shared with local media shows the confrontation began after a group of women in a passing car yelled at the couple and then escalated into a physical attack.
Incident Details
Rodriguez told South Florida NBC affiliate WTVJ that the encounter was "all unprovoked." According to Lopez, he gestured toward the vehicle, the driver turned around, and the situation quickly became physical. Lopez said one occupant sprayed him with pepper spray, and Rodriguez said the driver grabbed and pulled her hair.
Footage of the incident shows the altercation continuing beside the car and the driver reversing the vehicle, which knocked Rodriguez to the ground. First responders from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue treated both victims at the scene; authorities reported cuts, lacerations, swelling, and burning consistent with pepper spray exposure.
Joseph Peguero Rivera, deputy sheriff in the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Public Affairs Office, told The Advocate that investigators observed "bruises, lacerations and swelling and burning from pepper spray" on both victims. The suspects fled in an unknown vehicle; WTVJ shared video that captured the vehicle's license plate.
The Miami-Dade General Investigations Unit is investigating the incident, but the sheriff's office has not confirmed whether it will be investigated as a hate crime. Rodriguez said she was uncertain whether the attack was motivated by bias or a personal matter. She and Lopez have told WTVJ they intend to press charges.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. The investigation remains active and details may change as authorities follow up on leads and review the video evidence.
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