Illegal Alien Charged After Alleged Florida Beach Drowning Attempt: ‘Extremely Alarming’

A 26-year-old Venezuelan national is facing attempted murder charges after authorities say he ambushed a woman on a Florida beach, dragged her into the ocean, and tried to drown her in what officials described as a random late-night attack, as reported by The New York Post.

Said Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez was arrested in connection with the incident at Tiger Shores Beach in Stuart, Florida, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff John Budensiek addressed the case during a press conference, calling it “an extremely alarming case.” He said Gonzalez had overstayed his work visa and was in the country illegally at the time of the alleged attack, WPEC reported.

An illegal migrant man from Venezuela has been charged with attempted murder in Martin County, Fla. after allegedly trying to drown a woman in a random ambush attack on the beach. Said Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez allegedly held her head under the water. https://t.co/5FFcb9VEOT pic.twitter.com/Q8YuwIAYri

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 20, 2026

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“Random acts of violence like this are some of the most difficult crimes to solve – and that’s exactly what this was,” Budensiek said.

Authorities said the victim was walking alone along the shoreline around 11 p.m. Thursday while talking on the phone when she passed Gonzalez.

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Minutes later, investigators say he approached her from behind, struck her, and pulled her hair before grabbing her neck and forcing her head underwater.

According to the sheriff’s office, the victim told deputies she attempted to time her breathing with the waves during the struggle, which lasted several minutes. She eventually lost consciousness.

Budensiek said investigators believe Gonzalez thought the woman was dead. Authorities allege he threw her phone into the ocean, returned to his vehicle, smoked marijuana, and drank vodka before leaving the scene.

“The next thing she recalled was waking up half in and half out of the water,” Budensiek said. He added that the woman walked more than a mile to Stuart Beach, where deputies located her and observed bruising on her neck.

Gonzalez was taken into custodyon  Sunday after authorities received a report that he was threatening to kill himself and had claimed he murdered a woman on a beach.

Investigators said that led deputies to connect him to the assault at Tiger Shores Beach.

According to law enforcement, Gonzalez allegedly confessed to the attack. Officials said he told investigators the victim made him “angry,” and when asked whether he felt remorse, responded, “I don’t feel nothing.”

Gonzalez has been charged with attempted murder. Federal immigration authorities have also lodged an immigration detainer against him.

He is currently being held at the Martin County Jail.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the victim. Authorities have described the incident as a random act of violence and said the investigation remains ongoing.

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