A 19-year-old man from Plantation, Florida, was arrested in connection with an incident in which two Jewish pedestrians were reportedly sprayed with liquid from a water gun in northeast Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case as a potential hate crime.

Authorities identified the suspect as Amir Ayesh, who faces two felony counts of battery with prejudice, a charge indicating bias against a protected group. The alleged attack occurred on May 9 near Northeast 10th Avenue and 171st Street, an area known for its sizable Jewish community. According to police, the victims reported that an individual driving a black vehicle sprayed them with an unknown liquid. Surveillance footage later implicated Ayesh as the suspect.

An arrest warrant was issued on June 11, and Ayesh was apprehended on June 18 in Plantation by Broward County sheriff’s deputies, with support from other law enforcement agencies. He was booked into the Broward County Correctional Center but released the following day. Court records had not yet reflected the formal charges as of Friday.

Under Florida law, certain offenses can be enhanced to include a hate crime designation when motivated by prejudice based on characteristics such as religion. Battery with prejudice carries increased penalties compared to standard battery charges.

This case follows a similar incident earlier in the year in Miami Beach, where two men were arrested for targeting a Jewish man with a water gun. In that February episode, the suspects allegedly shouted antisemitic slurs before spraying the victim at an intersection near 41st Street and Collins Avenue. The accused, Michael Dean Emerson, 19, and Dominic Angelo Martinez, 18, faced comparable battery with prejudice charges.

Miami-Dade County is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States. A 2024 community study estimated approximately 130,100 Jewish residents, about 5% of the county’s overall population. The recent arrest comes amid growing concerns about antisemitic acts nationwide. The Anti-Defamation League reported that 2025 ranks as the third-highest year for such incidents since tracking began in 1979.

Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the May 9 incident to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.