Woman Nearly Drowned in Shocking Florida Beach Attack

A late-night walk along a Florida beach has ignited a national debate over immigration enforcement after authorities accused a Venezuelan national of attempting to drown a woman in what investigators described as a random and unprovoked attack.

Said Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez, 26, was arrested in connection with the incident at Tiger Shores Beach in Stuart, Florida. He is being held without bond in the Martin County Jail on a charge of attempted first-degree premeditated murder.

According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, the attack occurred around 11 p.m. as the victim was walking along the shoreline and using her cellphone.

Investigators allege Hernandez Gonzalez approached her from behind, struck her, and forced her into the ocean.

“About five minutes after passing him, she was brutally attacked,” Sheriff John Budensiek told local media. “She was grabbed around the throat, dragged into the ocean, and held down as she struggled to break free.”

Authorities say the suspect attempted to drown the woman by holding her underwater. She eventually lost consciousness. Believing she had died, Hernandez Gonzalez allegedly threw her phone into the water and left the scene.

“The next thing she recalled was waking up half in and half out of the water,” Budensiek said.

The woman managed to walk more than a mile to another area of the beach, where she encountered a deputy and reported the attack. Officials have not released her identity. She is expected to recover.

Budensiek described the case as “extremely alarming,” adding that random acts of violence present unique investigative challenges.

Authorities say Hernandez Gonzalez was taken into custody days later after someone reported a man who was suicidal and claiming to have killed a woman on a local beach.

When informed that the victim had survived, the suspect reportedly showed no remorse.

“When asked if he felt any remorse, his response was, ‘No, I don’t feel nothing,’” Budensiek said.

The case has drawn attention beyond Martin County because of Hernandez Gonzalez’s immigration status.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, he entered the United States illegally in 2023. Federal officials said he was paroled into the country and granted Temporary Protected Status under policies in place at the time.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer to ensure he remains in custody if local charges are resolved.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized prior federal immigration policies in a statement following the arrest.

“She bravely fought back and survived this wicked attack,” McLaughlin said. “Because of Florida’s cooperation with ICE, this individual will not be released back into American communities.”

The remarks reflect a broader push by federal officials to emphasize stricter enforcement and coordination between state and federal agencies.

Tiger Shores Beach is typically known for its quiet shoreline and limited nighttime activity. Local residents have described the alleged attack as deeply unsettling.

While prosecutors prepare their case, the incident is already being cited by conservative lawmakers and commentators as evidence of the risks posed by what they describe as lenient border and parole policies in recent years.

Hernandez Gonzalez remains in custody as the investigation continues. Authorities have not indicated whether additional charges could follow.