Homeless man in Florida with no arms arrested for stabbing tourist with scissors. Victim says he only asked for directions

A 46-year-old homeless man with no arms was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, after he stabbed a tourist with scissors using his feet. The incident happened early Tuesday morning near South Beach’s popular Lincoln Road shopping area.

Jonathan Crenshaw, a local street artist known for painting colorful pictures with his feet, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Police said he stabbed 22-year-old Cesar Coronado, a visitor from Chicago, twice in the left arm before running away.

The arrest report, obtained by Reuters, shows that Coronado and a female friend walked up to Crenshaw at Collins Avenue and 16th Street just after midnight. The victim told police he only asked for directions when the attack happened. “I’m not from here, and this is not what I came for. I came for a vacation,” Coronado told NBC 6. “I just said, ‘do you know where this is?’ but as soon as I talked, the only thing he reacted was he just cut me.”

What happened during the fight

Crenshaw told police a different story. He said he was lying down when Coronado walked up and punched him in the head. Crenshaw said he pulled out the scissors and stabbed the man to defend himself. When asked about punching Crenshaw first, Coronado said, “Why would I go and attack someone else? No, no, I wouldn’t do that.”

Police found Crenshaw near the scene just minutes after the incident. Officers said there were no signs that he was drunk or on drugs at the time. Coronado was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center to get treatment for his injuries.

Crenshaw was taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and held on $7,500 bond. His court-appointed lawyer was Devon Frampton. Police records show that Crenshaw has a long criminal history in Miami going back to at least 2008. His past charges include trespassing, disorderly intoxication, and battery of law enforcement officers.

The case went to trial in November 2021. A jury found Crenshaw not guilty of the charges. Crenshaw, who had been a well-known figure in the South Beach area for years, died on May 12, 2023, from esophageal varices. His death was not reported for almost a year.