Deputies in the Florida Keys say a heated late-night argument on a boat in Marathon turned violent when a man grabbed a machete and started swinging. The suspect, 66-year-old Luis Ancieto Herrada, was arrested on April 24 and booked on aggravated assault and battery charges after the confrontation. Authorities say the victim escaped and did not suffer any serious injuries.
What Deputies Say Happened
According to CBS Miami, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reports the incident unfolded around 10:42 p.m. on Herrada’s vessel, where the victim had been staying. An argument broke out, and deputies say Herrada "snapped," swung a machete at the other man, then chased him off the boat and struck him with an unknown object before the victim managed to get away.
Deputies responded to the scene, and Herrada was taken into custody and booked into the Monroe County jail.
Suspect’s Past
Herrada is not entirely new to local law enforcement. Keys Weekly previously reported a 2024 arrest in Marathon in which he was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and elderly abuse after allegedly striking a 78-year-old man with a 2×4. That earlier booking underscores prior violent incident entries in local police logs.
Another Machete Call This Month
The April 24 arrest landed amid another recent machete-related incident in the Keys. Deputies arrested 47-year-old Elijah Lee Tobridge on April 9 on Big Coppitt Key after reports that he was swinging a machete at milk crates, according to CBS Miami. In that case, as in Herrada’s, no injuries were reported.
What Comes Next
Herrada remains in custody as the investigation continues and prosecutors review the case. He faces felony counts of aggravated assault and battery under state law.
Anyone with information about the April 24 incident is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
