A Florida man is facing two counts of attempted murder after police say he deliberately used his car to run over two strangers in separate incidents Friday night. One of the alleged attacks happened near the Miami Gardens Police Department.
According to WPLG, Steve St. Felix, 44, is accused of first targeting an Uber Eats driver near the entrance to the police department around 8 p.m. Police say that St. Felix was driving a white Toyota Corolla when he targeted the delivery driver, who quickly got out of the way, causing St. Felix to crash into a handrail and take off.
An hour later, St. Felix showed up at a nearby Aldi and spotted a customer walking toward the store. The customer saw the Corolla exit, then heard the engine rev, make a U-turn, accelerate, and strike him. The victim collided with the windshield and fell onto the pavement, causing serious abrasions to his right arm and ribs; he was treated at the scene.
The Corolla was later abandoned on Northwest 30th Court, and St. Felix walked more than a mile to a RaceWay gas station. Around 11 p.m., police say St. Felix called 911 and admitted to both incidents. Officers arrived at the RaceWay station and took him into custody without incident.
His Work ID Was Left Behind
According to the arrest report, a work ID card bearing St. Felix’s name was hanging from the Corolla’s rearview mirror.
His 911 call also gave investigators a direct connection to the crashes. Police responded to the RaceWay station after St. Felix reportedly described what he had done and remained there until officers arrived.
The Attacks Were Deliberate
St. Felix told an officer he had been driving near the police station when he saw someone outside carrying a bag. He said he began thinking about possibly hurting the person before making a U-turn toward the Uber Eats driver.
Police said St. Felix described a similar thought process at Aldi. He reportedly told investigators he waited for someone to walk toward the store before turning the car around and intentionally striking the victim.
Suspect Mentioned Mental Health Problems
It was also reported that St. Felix told police he has mental health problems and was not currently taking medication. Police did not publicly identify a specific diagnosis.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that only about 3% to 5% of violent acts are committed by people with serious mental illness. People with serious mental illnesses are also more than 10 times more likely than the general population to be victims of violent crime.
St. Felix was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on two counts of attempted murder and a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge. A judge ordered him held without bond as of Tuesday morning.