A Late-night attack by a Venezuelan National has left a Florida community shaken after authorities say a 26-year-old man ambushed a woman walking alone along the shoreline in Stuart. Deputies allege that Said Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez, identified as an illegal alien carried out the brutal attack at Tiger Shores Beach.

After dragging the victim into the ocean and attempting to drown her, he left her for dead.

According to investigators, the disturbing incident unfolded around 11 p.m. Thursday at Tiger Shores Beach. The victim had been walking alone while talking on her phone when she passed Gonzalez. Minutes later, deputies say, he approached her from behind, struck her, yanked her hair, grabbed her by the throat, and forced her head underwater.

Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National

The Late-night attack by a Venezuelan National has been described by authorities as random and deeply alarming. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek called the case “extremely alarming” during a press conference, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the assault.

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

Investigators say the terrified victim attempted to time her breaths with the crashing waves during the minutes-long struggle. Eventually, she lost consciousness. Believing she was dead, Hernandez Gonzalez allegedly threw her phone into the ocean and walked away from the scene.

Authorities further allege that after the attack, he returned to his car, smoked marijuana, drank vodka, and then fled.

The victim later regained consciousness, waking up partially submerged in the water. Despite her injuries and trauma, she managed to walk more than a mile to Stuart Beach, where deputies located her and observed bruising around her neck consistent with strangulation.

Venezuelan National Arrested

The Venezuelan National accused in the late-night attack was taken into custody Sunday after authorities received a report that he was threatening to kill himself and claiming he had murdered a woman on a beach. Deputies responded and detained him without incident.

According to law enforcement, Hernandez Gonzalez allegedly confessed to the assault, stating that the victim made him “angry.” When asked if he felt remorse, he reportedly told investigators, “I don’t feel nothing.”

Hernandez Gonzalez has been charged with attempted murder and is being held at the Martin County Jail. Immigration authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have placed a federal detainer on him.

Officials noted that the suspect had overstayed his work visa at the time of the attack.

For more details on the case, see coverage from

Florida woman nearly drowned by illegal immigrant who smoked pot, drank alcohol after ‘violent’ attack: MCSO | FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Immigration | FOX 13 Tampa Bay

The investigation remains ongoing.