William González, 67 years old and a resident of southwest Miami-Dade, was arrested on Wednesday after being accused of hitting another user with a dumbbell during a dispute at a LA Fitness gym in Miami, according to local media reports such as local media.
The incident occurred around 8:20 PM at the establishment located at 9291 West Flagler Street in Miami-Dade County, according to the arrest report from the Sheriff's Office.
The dispute and the attack
According to reports, it all began when González and the victim, identified as Arman Murant, met in front of the weightlifting equipment at the gym and had a “heated argument” over the use of the equipment.
According to Murant's account to the investigators, the accused grabbed a dumbbell from the rack with his right hand and threw it at him.
Murant raised his left forearm to protect himself, but he was hit both on the arm and on the left side of his head.
When the agents arrived at the scene, they documented "visible bruises and a lump" on the left side of the victim's head, along with a scratch on the left forearm, injuries that, according to the report, matched Murant's account.
The defendant's version and the testimony of an employee
González admitted to the police that he had argued with Murant, but he denied having hit him with the dumbbell.
The accused claimed that he lifted the weight solely to scare the victim away, not to hit her.
However, a gym employee provided a statement that contradicts that version: although she claimed not to have witnessed the moment of the blow, she did see González chasing Murant through the facilities while he attempted to escape, according to the arrest report.
A gym user interviewed by Telemundo 51 expressed his surprise at what happened: "Never. And I have never seen aggression like this in fitness gyms."
Another regular at the place reflected on the root of the problem: "I've seen so many issues at gyms due to waiting for a weight. Waiting for a machine. People should have a little more patience."
Detention and charges
González was arrested and initially transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, the main intake facility of the Miami-Dade jail system.
He faces a charge of aggravated assault, which in Florida can carry sentences of up to 15 years in prison when committed with a blunt object capable of causing serious bodily harm.
At the close of the reports on Thursday, he remained in custody at the Metrowest Detention Center with a bond set at 5,000 dollars.
The nationality of the accused has not been revealed, nor has there been any information regarding legal representation for either party.
Recommendations to Avoid Incidents in Gyms
In its coverage of the case, Telemundo 51 included a series of recommendations to prevent similar situations: ask before taking equipment that someone else is using, respect turns and the establishment's rules, and avoid insults and physical confrontation.
The media also reminded that, in the face of any threat or aggression, the most prudent course of action is to distance oneself and call 911.
The charge of aggravated assault constitutes a formal accusation, not a conviction, and González is presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise.
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