PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – A Florida man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after being convicted of stabbing a woman who criticized his children’s behavior at a local supermarket.
Jammacar Rodkesh Gayle, 40, was handed a 12-year prison term following a March jury conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The sentencing comes after a violent incident at the Milan Supermarket on Tamiami Trail, approximately 30 miles from Fort Myers.
The attack, which occurred on June 9, 2023, unfolded near the store’s butcher counter. Gayle was shopping with his children and ex-wife when a verbal altercation began with a woman in line for meat, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
An arrest affidavit details that the argument was over the children’s behavior involving Gayle’s ex-wife. The confrontation briefly subsided before tensions flared up again as the woman returned for the rest of her meat order. A physical push led to a scuffle where Gayle ultimately reacted violently.
Surveillance footage showed Gayle first attempting to wield a frying pan before reverting to a more lethal weapon. Grabbing an 8-inch chef’s knife from the store shelf, Gayle launched a vicious attack, swinging at the woman multiple times.
Following the stabbing, Gayle fled to the parking lot with the victim trailing behind to document his license plate. Despite his threatening demeanor, she sought to identify him before Gayle left the scene with his family.
The aftermath was severe, with the victim experiencing life-threatening wounds. Emergency responders found her with significant bleeding from her abdomen and head, necessitating an urgent airlift to a nearby hospital.
During the investigation, the store owner confirmed that both the victim and Gayle’s family regularly frequented the supermarket. Meanwhile, Gayle attempted to hide his actions by disposing of his bloodied clothes and fleeing to New York.
Law enforcement efficiently tracked him down using surveillance technologies. Detectives executed a search warrant at his North Port residence, leading to the discovery of the knife and discarded clothing. The U.S. Marshals arrested Gayle the following day in Queens, New York, and he was extradited to face justice in Florida.
The case underscores pressing concerns about impulsive violence stemming from everyday disputes as the community comes to terms with the chilling supermarket altercation that could have ended in even more tragedy.