MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A 32-year-old man was arrested Thursday after police said he targeted a man and his children because they were Jewish and made antisemitic remarks to them in Miami Beach during Passover.
According to an arrest report, Miami Beach police officers were dispatched just before 2 p.m. to Stillwater Park, located at 8440 Hawthorne Ave., in reference to a disturbance involving a gun.
Miami Beach police said several calls were placed by parties involved in the dispute, including one from the suspect, Ahmad Zeeshan, who told 911 that “a male accompanied by children pointed a firearm at him” after asking whether they were Jewish.
The report states that a call was also placed by the victim, who reported that Zeeshan used antisemitic slurs toward him and his children.
Officers responded and located both parties after they had been separated.
The victim told investigators he was at the park with his family when they were approached by Zeeshan as they were leaving.
According to the report, Zeeshan asked the victims, “You guys are Jewish?”
After the victim confirmed they were Jewish, Zeeshan allegedly began verbally assaulting them, saying, “Get the f--- out of here, you f------ dirty people,” the report states.
Police said Zeeshan continued using vulgar language and racially charged insults, later telling the victim he was going to attack him and “f--- him up.”
They said the victim warned Zeeshan to stop and told him to stay away, but Zeeshan continued to press him, causing the victim to fear for his and his children’s safety. The victim, who was with his two children ages 7 and 5, then drew a gun he carries for protection after pleading with Zeeshan to de-escalate, officers said.
According to the report, the sight of the weapon caused Zeeshan to retreat briefly, but he later began moving back toward the family and continued making verbal threats.
Police said a witness nearby asked the victim to stand behind her because she was also frightened by Zeeshan’s behavior. The victim asked the witness to call police and record the incident.
They said Zeeshan also began recording and left the park in his vehicle. He was later stopped in the 900 block of Stillwater Drive in a 2025 gray Kia K4 with Virginia tag “TAJ8641.”
While in custody, the report states Zeeshan said multiple times that he was “just exercising his First Amendment rights.” Investigators said he also stated that he is Muslim and “does not like Jews.”
Police wrote that Zeeshan targeted the victim and his family because of their religion and that his actions placed others in and around the park in danger.
“The defendant charged at him. He was in fear for his life, he perceived that him and his kids were in harms way, witnesses attempted to intervene, said Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.
The report further states Zeeshan “appears mentally unstable” and expressed that he “likely would not be alive in a few months,” saying he has stage 4 cancer and is undergoing treatment. Officers noted the victim and his children appeared visibly shaken after the encounter, while Zeeshan showed no remorse and maintained his actions were justified.
Prosecutors said Ahmad Zeeshan appeared in bond court Friday, where they asked the court to impose a higher bond, arguing the allegations involved bias-motivated conduct and the presence of children. The defense requested a standard bond, noting he has no prior criminal record.
The judge rejected the defense request, calling Zeeshan’s alleged behavior “disgusting” and emphasizing the involvement of a gun and children.
The judge found probable cause on a charge of assault with prejudice based on religion and ordered Zeeshan to stay away from and have no contact with the victims.
As of Friday afternoon, he was being held on a $5,000 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
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