Florida Man Arrested After Randomly Attacking Woman With Umbrella in Miami’s Overtown

Richard Kenneth Hughes Jr., 41, of Milton in Florida’s Panhandle, was arrested Thursday by Miami Police Department officers in connection with a violent battery that occurred near Northwest First Court and Sixth Street in the Overtown neighborhood. The attack left the victim with a deep facial laceration that required medical treatment.

According to the arrest report, the victim was walking to work when Hughes approached and followed her, becoming verbally aggressive before launching the assault. Hughes allegedly took an umbrella from the woman and struck her repeatedly in the face with it while she lay on the ground unable to defend herself.

A witness observed the attack and confirmed the victim did not provoke Hughes. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators corroborated the account and also captured Hughes picking up a large rock and throwing it toward the victim, narrowly missing her.

Hughes is facing one count of aggravated battery with a weapon or firearm causing great bodily harm and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Friday morning with bond to be set. The motive for the unprovoked attack remains undetermined.

The incident was one of two random attacks reported in the Miami area Thursday. Police also arrested a man accused of randomly punching a woman in the Little Havana neighborhood in a separate, unrelated incident.