Man taken into custody after stabbing 2 family members, relatives say

Family has been caring for John Tennie, who suffers from mental illness

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was taken into custody Friday morning after he stabbed two family members at a home in southwest Miami-Dade, relatives told Local 10 News.

According to family members, the man suffers from mental illness and was being hostile because he hasn't been taking his medication.

His sister, Marsha Tennie, identified him as John Tennie, who she said the family has been caring for since their mother passed away. 

Marsha Tennie said her sister was stabbed in the buttocks and her nephew was stabbed in the chest.

"He had the knife in his hand, running with a knife, stabbed my nephew in the chest, and then he ran into my yard and he swung the knife at me but I jumped back," Marsha Tennie said.  

Both victims were taken to Jackson South Medical Center for treatment. 

Police confirmed the family called authorities to the home at 20285 SW 110th Court, where John Tennie allegedly jumped out of a bathroom window, ran back inside the house to grab the knife and barricaded himself inside a room. 

Police said a Taser was deployed at some point, but it's unclear whether it made contact with John Tennie.

Authorities eventually were able to get him down on the floor and he was taken into custody. 

According to the man's family, they have been trying to get him help for years, but he has continued to be released from any mental health facility he is checked into within 24 hours. 

 


About the Author:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.