Cutler Bay SUV Driver Arrested After Swerving Into Cyclists, Firing Shot
A 40-year-old Homestead man was arrested after he allegedly swerved an SUV into a group of cyclists in Cutler Bay and fired a shot into the ground. Here is what the footage and charging documents show.
Key Takeaways
- A group of cyclists riding two abreast in Cutler Bay, Florida, was confronted by a black SUV whose driver appeared to swerve into them on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
- The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office says the driver brandished a gun and fired one shot into the ground in the cyclists’ direction. No one was injured.
- Raimiero Rios, 40, of Homestead, was arrested on Monday, August 24, after he voluntarily turned himself in to authorities.
- He faces three felony charges: aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
- A Miami-Dade judge set bond at $15,000 and ordered Rios to have no contact with the victims.
- Florida law permits cyclists to ride two abreast and requires drivers to treat them as they would any other vehicle.
What Happened in Cutler Bay
The confrontation unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026, along Southwest 87th Avenue near Southwest 184th Street in Cutler Bay, a town in southwest Miami-Dade County about 20 miles south of Miami. A group of cyclists was riding two abreast when a black SUV approached from behind with its horn blaring.
According to multiple accounts of the footage, the SUV driver passed a “share the road” sign aimed at warning motorists about cyclists, then deliberately veered toward the riders. The vehicle narrowly missed one rider, described in reporting as believed to be 75 years old, sending him off the road, and forced a second rider to come to an abrupt halt after making contact with the SUV.
That rider then reacted angrily to the maneuver, slapping the passenger-side window and kicking the vehicle. A member of the group can be heard saying, “I’m calling the cops, don’t leave.” Moments later, a gunshot is heard, and the SUV drives off. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office says the driver brandished a gun before firing one shot into the ground in the direction of the cyclists. No one was hurt.
What the Video Shows
The confrontation was captured by cameras mounted on the riders and posted widely on social media, including the local account Only in Dade. The footage shows the SUV overtaking the group, its horn sounding, before the driver matches speed with one rider and steers toward them. In the process, the SUV narrowly misses an oncoming motorist traveling the opposite direction.
The clip then shows the vehicle cutting off the group and the physical reaction from one cyclist. The audio captures the gunshot, and investigators later found a bullet impact in the ground where the shot landed. The two cyclists later confirmed to CBS News Miami that they were not injured but declined to speak on the record while the case remains open.
The Arrest
The investigation moved quickly. On Monday, August 24, 2026, Raimiero Rios, 40, of Homestead, voluntarily turned himself in to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. He was taken into custody and charged with three felonies: aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
Rios appeared in bond court, where Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy Glazer found probable cause for the charges and set bond at $15,000. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and was ordered to have no contact, direct or indirect, with the victims. As of the latest reporting, no trial date had been set and the case remains in early stages.
What Florida Law Says
The incident has renewed attention on the rules that govern how drivers and cyclists are supposed to share Florida roads. Under Florida law, cyclists are permitted to ride two abreast, and drivers are legally required to treat a bicycle as they would any other vehicle. That means a cyclist riding lawfully in a travel lane is not obstructing traffic in a way that justifies a hostile or dangerous response from a motorist.
The charges filed against Rios reflect conduct that goes well beyond a traffic disagreement. Discharging a firearm from a vehicle is a felony in Florida, and aggravated assault with a firearm alleges the use of a deadly weapon to threaten or attempt violence against another person. Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon covers the use of the SUV itself as a weapon when it was steered into the riders. None of those allegations require an injury to have occurred; the conduct alone is what is charged.
Why This Matters for Cyclists
Every cyclist who rides on open roads knows the unease of an impatient or aggressive driver closing from behind. Most encounters end with a horn, a yell, or a close pass. This one escalated to a firearm, and the only reason it did not end in a fatality was luck.
The case also illustrates the dual nature of modern cycling confrontations: the same cameras that captured the danger provide the evidence that leads to an arrest. For riders, the practical takeaway echoed by cycling advocates is consistent. Do not escalate. Get the license plate, preserve the video, and let law enforcement handle the rest.
Charges and Bond
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Suspect | Raimiero Rios, 40, of Homestead, Florida |
| Date of incident | Saturday, August 22, 2026 |
| Location | Southwest 87th Avenue near Southwest 184th Street, Cutler Bay |
| Charge 1 | Aggravated assault with a firearm |
| Charge 2 | Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon |
| Charge 3 | Discharging a firearm from a vehicle |
| Bond | $15,000, set by Judge Mindy Glazer |
| Custody | Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center |
| Injuries | None reported |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Were the cyclists injured in the Cutler Bay incident?
No. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed a shot was fired into the ground in the cyclists’ direction, and the two riders later told CBS News Miami they were not injured. The investigation found no injuries from the confrontation.
Q: Who was arrested and what is he charged with?
Raimiero Rios, 40, of Homestead, was arrested on August 24, 2026, after turning himself in. He faces three felony counts: aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and discharging a firearm from a vehicle.
Q: Is it legal for cyclists to ride two abreast in Florida?
Yes. Florida law allows cyclists to ride two abreast, and drivers are required to treat bicycles as vehicles. The riders in Cutler Bay were operating lawfully, which is why the criminal case focuses on the driver’s conduct rather than the cyclists’ positioning.
Q: Has the driver been convicted?
No. As of the latest reporting, Rios has been charged and released on a $15,000 bond with a no-contact order. The case is in its early stages, and charges are allegations that must still be proven in court.
Q: Where can I see the footage?
The video was widely circulated on social media through the local account Only in Dade and was reviewed by multiple news outlets, including NBC 6 South Florida and road.cc, which reported the charging details.
Source: NBC 6 South Florida and road.cc
