MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (Le Floridien) — A North Miami-Dade neighborhood dispute over a large bunch of bananas allegedly turned violent Sunday morning, leaving one man hospitalized and another facing an attempted murder charge.
Authorities say Jean Felixjunior Cherubin, 33, was arrested after deputies said he repeatedly struck another man with a machete during an altercation near Northwest 137th Street and Northwest Seventh Avenue.
According to an arrest affidavit, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded around 10:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a fight involving a machete. Investigators said the victim told them he and Cherubin had argued the day before and returned to the same location Sunday.
The dispute reportedly started over a banana tree in Cherubin’s yard. The tree had produced a large bunch of bananas that extended over the property line and hung into the neighbor’s yard. When the bananas ripened, the neighbor allegedly cut down the bunch and took it to his own residence, sparking anger and tension between the two men.
The incident also highlights the importance for immigrant families and all homeowners to understand property boundaries and local rules involving trees, fences, and plants that extend into a neighbor’s yard. In many communities, branches or fruit that cross over a property line can create confusion and conflict if neighbors do not communicate clearly. Before cutting, removing, or claiming anything that grows across a boundary, residents should seek clarification, speak respectfully with their neighbor, or contact local authorities or code enforcement when necessary. Understanding these limits can help prevent small property disputes from turning into serious legal or violent confrontations.
According to investigators, the argument escalated when the two men encountered each other again Sunday. The victim told deputies that Cherubin, allegedly without provocation, pulled out a concealed machete and struck him multiple times in an attempt to kill him.
The affidavit states that Cherubin continued attacking the victim until people in the neighborhood intervened and subdued him. Authorities said the victim suffered multiple lacerations.
During the confrontation, the victim also reportedly struck Cherubin several times around the jaw, which may explain the bandages seen on Cherubin’s face after the incident.
Both men were transported to Jackson North Medical Center for treatment. The victim remained under medical care following the attack.
Cherubin was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. He was later transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
The case remains under investigation.
