INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two Vero Beach men were arrested on Sunday after authorities responded to a call about a stabbing in southern Indian River County.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alexander Mendez, 19, and his brother Daniel Mendez, 23.
The victim had already been transported to the Indian River Medical Center to be treated for “a severe laceration to the back of the head/neck area,” according to the arrest affidavit.
During the investigation, authorities learned that the victim’s father witnessed two men, allegedly the Mendez brothers, attacking and beating his son outside of his residence. When the father attempted to pull the men away from his son, Alexander Mendez pulled out a knife and began beating and cutting the victim’s father, the affidavit states.
According to a statement the father gave to the police, Alexander Mendez knocked him to the ground, pointed a knife at him, and “told him that first they were going to kill his son and then they were going to kill him.”
The victim’s father watched as Alexander Mendez allegedly stabbed his son in the back of the head. The Mendezes then fled on foot into the woods nearby.
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim was blindsided by the men who hid behind a vehicle and attacked him as he was exiting the passenger side of a pickup truck he arrived at the residence in with a friend.
When questioned, both the son and the father victims reported they believed the crime was racially motivated and each attacker was armed with a knife.
The Mendez brothers are Mexican, according to the victims, and the victims are Guatemalan.
“Both victims indicated there have been several statements made in the past that they [the victims] would die. However, no previous incidents like this have happened,” according to the official police report. Both victims were reportedly in fear for their lives and pegged the brothers’ motive as a disdain for Guatemalans.
Once in custody, authorities said Daniel Mendez offered police a monetary bribe for his release.
Daniel Mendez is being held without bond on charges of attempted felony murder, felony aggravated battery, and bribery.
Alexander Mendez is being held on $200,000 bond on charges of attempted felony murder and felony aggravated battery.
