VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Police Department has released the 911 call from the fatal stabbing at McDonald’s that happened Monday night.
Sept. 2 5:03 p.m.
VERO BEACH — During a Tuesday morning press conference, the Vero Beach Police Department released further information regarding the fatal stabbing that occurred at the McDonald’s on US 1 south of State Road 60 Monday night.
Police confirmed that the suspect is a homeless man who has since been placed into custody and that the victim, 28-year-old Kevin Adorno, was bicycling with his girlfriend from Maryland to Miami.
Adorno had plans to propose to his girlfriend while in Miami, authorities said. The engagement ring has been placed into evidence. The victim’s girlfriend was on the phone when the attack happened.
The police recovered two knives believed to have been used to stab Adorno. One knife was found in the bushes at McDonald’s. That knife is said to be a 12-inch fillet knife and the murder weapon. The other knife and his outer shirt were found in a trash can at the Burger King where Cruz was running to notify police, according to the police report.
Authorities have identified Rene Herrera Cruz, 59, as the suspect in the fatal stabbing. Cruz faces a charge of first degree murder, according to police. He is being held at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
Adorno had been transported to Indian River Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries overnight.
Sept. 2 at 9:56 a.m.
VERO BEACH — A suspect has been taken into custody for the stabbing death that happened Monday night around 9:30, according to Vero Beach Police Chief David Currey.
The officers who arrived at the McDonald’s found a white male, later identified as Kevin Adorno, 32, lying on the floor near the bathrooms, according to authorities.
It was evident from the amount of blood that he had been stabbed several times in the chest and arm, authorities said.
Although Indian River County Fire Rescue assisted in the attempts to save Adorno; he succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead a short time later at the Indian River Medical Center.
The suspect, later identified as Rene Herrera Cruz, 49, was apprehended across the street from the crime scene at the Burger King by members of the Vero Beach Police Department and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Deputies who had also responded to the call, according to a press release. The suspect matched the description provided by the eye witnesses and he was placed under arrest and transported to the Vero Beach Police Department for questioning.
During questioning by detectives of the Vero Beach Police Department, Cruz said he stabbed Adorno, according to authorities. Cruz stated that he thought Adorno was directing other people via cell phone to attack him and Cruz therefore felt threatened and attacked Adorno.
Witnesses to the event saw Adorno walk out to the parking lot of McDonalds prior to the attack and use his cell phone, according to police. They then observed Cruz approach Adorno and begin to attack him with a knife and then run across US 1.
According to investigators, there were no statements that would lead detectives to believe that Cruz was threatened or accosted in any way by Adorno.
A press conference is planned for 11 a.m. today at the Vero Beach Police Department.
09/01 11:25 a.m. – VERO BEACH — The stabbing victim has died at the hospital, according to Ofc. John Morrison, spokesman for the Vero Beach Police Department.
The incident involved two people, a homeless man and a person from out of state, according to Morrison.
More information is expected to be released Tuesday.
09/01 9:58 p.m. – VERO BEACH — Authorities are investigating a stabbing that happened around 9:30 p.m. Monday, according to the police scanner.
The perpetrator stabbed the victim at the McDonald’s south of State Road 60 on US 1 as the victim was leaving, according to a witness on scene. The witness told VeroNews.com that it was a homeless person who “stabbed the sh** out of him,” and took his wallet. The victim was said to stagger back inside after being stabbed.
A knife was said to be found in a trash can at the Burger King. Police are now looking at video footage to identify the person who stabbed the McDonald’s customer.
This article will be updated when more information becomes available.