2 men, 6-year-old boy attacked outside Miami Gardens McDonald’s, police say

(Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation/Google Maps)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A 37-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after police said he attacked two men and a 6-year-old boy as they were leaving a McDonald’s in Miami Gardens.

According to an arrest report from the Miami Gardens Police Department, Javarus Therone Howard, of Miami Gardens, was arrested Saturday on charges of burglary of an occupied conveyance and three counts of battery.

The incident was reported around 3 p.m. Saturday at the McDonald’s at 18250 NW 27th Ave.

Police said the victims had eaten inside the fast food restaurant and were leaving when Howard followed them to their car.

According to the arrest report, Howard approached the boy’s father on the passenger side of the vehicle and grabbed him by the throat, leading to a physical altercation.

Police said Howard then entered the vehicle through the driver’s side door and stole $20 in cash.

He then reached over into the backseat and grabbed the boy by the head, authorities said.

According to the report, the owner of the vehicle then approached Howard and Howard slapped the man’s phone from his hand.

Howard then re-entered the McDonald’s where officers located him and arrested him.

According to the report, several witnesses who were in the drive-through at the time provided written statements about what occurred.

A motive for the attack remains unclear.

According to the report, the $20 was returned to the father as officers arrested Howard.

As of Monday afternoon, Howard was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Online jail records listed his bond as “to be set.”

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Amanda Batchelor

Amanda Batchelor

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.