Investigators said the suspect resisted officers before being subdued with a Taser.
MIAMI, Fla. — A woman was hospitalized Tuesday after Miami police said she was stabbed in the face with a pen during an unprovoked attack in downtown Miami, where officers later arrested a suspect after a tense confrontation near Biscayne Boulevard.
Authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Raydean Johnson, who police said was homeless at the time of the attack. Investigators believe the woman was walking her dog when Johnson approached her from behind and stabbed her in the face before fleeing the immediate area. Officers responding to emergency calls located Johnson near a CVS store across from the Kaseya Center, where police said he ignored repeated commands to surrender. The standoff forced road closures in one of the city’s busiest downtown corridors and disrupted traffic for nearly two hours while officers negotiated with the suspect.
Police said officers first responded Tuesday morning after reports of an assault along Biscayne Boulevard. Emergency crews arrived to find the victim injured but alert. Rescue personnel transported her to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where doctors treated her for facial injuries. Witnesses described a heavy police response that quickly expanded as officers tracked the suspect nearby. Television footage from the scene showed patrol cars lining the boulevard while officers blocked intersections and redirected traffic away from the area. During the confrontation, officers repeatedly ordered Johnson to surrender before eventually using a Taser to subdue him. Video recorded near the scene showed Johnson falling to the pavement moments before officers handcuffed him and escorted him to a police vehicle.
Miami police later announced that Johnson was facing several felony charges, including attempted murder, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, resisting an officer with violence and criminal mischief. Authorities said investigators found no evidence the victim was robbed or specifically targeted before the assault. Detectives described the attack as random and said there was no known relationship between the suspect and the victim. Following his arrest, Johnson was taken for medical and psychological evaluation. Police officials said he was likely to be held under Florida’s Baker Act because of concerns surrounding his mental condition during the confrontation. By Tuesday night, jail records showed Johnson remained held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center while awaiting a bond determination.
The violence unfolded near several major downtown landmarks, including the Kaseya Center and heavily traveled residential and business areas along Biscayne Boulevard. The neighborhood typically sees large numbers of commuters, tourists and residents throughout the day. Officers shut down sections of Northeast Eighth and Ninth streets during the investigation and police operation, creating traffic congestion across downtown Miami during the morning rush. Residents in nearby apartment towers watched the standoff from balconies while office workers gathered along sidewalks behind police tape. Some businesses delayed opening as officers searched the area and secured evidence connected to the attack. By midday, police reopened the streets and removed barricades after investigators determined there was no further danger to the public.
Detectives spent much of Tuesday reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses who observed the attack or the police response that followed. Authorities were also expected to examine body camera footage recorded by officers during Johnson’s arrest. Prosecutors will review evidence gathered by detectives before deciding whether additional charges are appropriate. Police officials did not publicly identify the victim, though they confirmed she was in stable condition after surgery and medical treatment. Investigators have not disclosed whether Johnson has prior arrests in Miami-Dade County, but officials said they were examining his background as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident drew widespread attention throughout South Florida after videos from the scene circulated online showing officers surrounding the suspect near the downtown pharmacy. People working nearby described a chaotic atmosphere as helicopters hovered overhead and emergency sirens echoed through the business district. One employee at a nearby office building said workers were told to remain indoors while officers searched for the suspect. Others recalled seeing paramedics rush the injured woman into an ambulance while police established a perimeter around the area. Although the scene returned to normal by late afternoon, many residents said the violence was unsettling because of how quickly the attack unfolded in a crowded public area.
Police said the investigation remained ongoing Tuesday night as detectives continued processing evidence and preparing reports for prosecutors. Johnson is expected to appear before a judge in Miami-Dade County as court proceedings move forward in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated May 20, 2026.