Man accused of stabbing teen "multiple times" at Miami International Airport is denied bond
MIAMI - A man accused of stabbing a teen "multiple times" at Miami International Airport on Saturday night, and almost throwing her over a balcony, in an unprovoked attack appeared in Miami bond court on Monday.
Alexander Love, 29, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and attempted murder. A judge denied him bond on both counts and ordered him not to contact the 17-year-old directly, indirectly or on social media. Love was also ordered to stay away from the airport.
According to police, Love and the teen were on the fourth floor of Terminal J when he suddenly "attacked her by stabbing her multiple times and attempted to throw her over the railing."
The teen was sitting on the floor eating when she was stabbed 18 times in her arms, shoulders, neck, face and legs, according to Love's arrest report.
She was able to escape and ran downstairs to the third floor, which is where officers found her. Love, who remained on the fourth floor, was taken into custody. Police said a knife was recovered.
According to the arrest report, "Video CCTV footage of the incident was reviewed and depicts the defendants lying in wait in the prone position looking towards the direction of the victim, prior to removing the butcher knife from his backpack and attacking the victim."
A video shared with CBS News Miami showed the teen sitting down in the waiting area of the airport's terminal and bleeding. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue rushed her to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.
A witness told CBS News Miami that several flights were arriving when the attack happened, and people either tried to help the teen or ran away from the terminal. They said they were shocked that it happened in such a congested part of the airport.
Love appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer in bond court on Monday and Glazer said, "There is probable cause for the charges on the attack on the 17-year-old with a long butcher knife" and she noted the victim was stabbed 18 times on her "arms, shoulders, face and neck and head and legs. The victim was sitting on the floor having a meal. This sounds like there should be probable cause for attempted first-degree murder."
She said to Love, "Sir you are ordered to stay away from the victim whose initials are D.J. And to have no contact with the victim either directly, indirectly or through 3rd persons, or in writing or by telephone or through 3rd parties and no contact with the victim through social media or electronic means and you must stay at least 500 feet away from the victim."
She also said, "I am also ordering him to stay away from Miami International Airport where the offense occurred. You are not allowed to go there unless you have a valid ticket for travel."
Miami-Dade Police told CBS News Miami that both Love and the unidentified victim are homeless and just happened to be at Miami International Airport.
They say it is not known if Love and the victim knew each other. Records show that Love is from Tallmadge, Ohio which is near Akron and police said the victim is also from Ohio.
Court records show Love was arrested last year in Miami-Dade on several misdemeanor offenses.