INDIANAPOLIS — A 27-year-old man is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, for his alleged role in a serial stabbing that injured nine people at a restaurant and lounge on Indianapolis' northwest side.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Filsmagre Estinfil has been charged with six felonies: two counts of attempted murder, aggravated battery and three counts of battery.
The incident was reported shortly after 3:30 a.m. Monday, June 17 at Miami's Garden Restaurant and Lounge, located in a strip mall in the 7100 block of Woodland Drive, near West 71st Street and Interstate 465.
Police said nine people were stabbed during a fight between two groups of people. Prosecutors said Estinfil was among those who were injured in the incident, and he was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
"This is an example of unacceptable and avoidable violence. We have a scenario where it’s late at night, drinking is involved, and an altercation occurs when the defendant introduces a deadly weapon — escalating a minor dispute to a nearly fatal encounter that has left multiple people seriously injured," Mears said.
Estinfil had his initial court hearing Monday afternoon. 13News reporter Rich Nye was in the courtroom for the hearing and said Estinfil had visible injuries as he walked in and out of court while in custody.
During his initial hearing, Estinfil said he plans to hire his own attorneys.
The judge set a cash bond of $20,000, with a trial date tentatively set for Sept. 16.
According to court documents, one of the people who was stabbed told detectives he was at the lounge for a friend's birthday party. As he was leaving, he said he saw a fight outside between three men, one of whom started stabbing people.
Detectives also looked at security video from Miami's Garden, which shows a lot of people outside.
According to court documents, surveillance video shows a man punch another man, which then escalates a fight between multiple people.
In the video, detectives said Estinfil is then allegedly seen walking toward the fight and reaching into his right pants pocket, unfolding what appears to be a knife.
Court documents say Estinfil is then seen walking behind multiple men and stabbing at least one man from behind.
A witness told detectives the suspect, later identified as Estinfil, tried to get in a car to leave, but an off-duty female security guard tried to stop him before she was also stabbed.
Detectives spoke with the off-duty security guard, who was recovering at a hospital after she was stabbed. She said doctors told her that her wound was less than an inch away from her heart and had punctured the sac around her heart.
After allegedly stabbing the security guard, Estinfil is said to be seen in surveillance video running away as multiple men chased after him. Detectives said the video shows Estinfil throw something behind him, with the knife being found near a line of trees.
Once the men caught up to Estinfil, surveillance video allegedly shows multiple men kick and punch him, knocking him unconscious.
Medics took Estinfil to a hospital in critical condition.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the IMPD Aggravated Assault Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Restaurant closed by fire marshal
In a statement to 13News, the Pike Township Fire Department said the restaurant has been ordered closed due to code violations unrelated to the stabbing:
"As a result of the recent incident at Miami’s Garden, our Fire Prevention Division became aware of general Marion County/City of Indianapolis code/permitting issues with the establishment which resulted in the closure order. The establishment will be able to reopen once those code/permitting issues have been addressed with the City of Indianapolis. The closure is not the result of the stabbings that took place at that location."
Specifically, a department spokesperson said, the violations "were for operating without an entertainment permit and for not obtaining a construction permit."
Previous incidents at Miami's Garden
The June 17 stabbing isn't the first time police have been called to Miami's Garden Lounge and Restaurant. 13News found three separate police reports from the location from just this year.
The first, on New Year's Day, was for a fight outside the club. Then in March, a report shows a person walked into the hospital with a gunshot wound and the location was listed Miami's Garden.
The third report, which was filed in late May, was for another fight that happened at the club.
IMPD says Excise Police has been to the restaurant to investigate recently. 13News reached out to Excise Police for more information on their investigation into Miami's Garden but have not heard back.