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Woman Charged After Antisemitic Attack on Man at Target Starbucks

Investigators say surveillance video and witness statements show a 43-year-old struck a yarmulke‑wearing customer and threatened him with a chair, and the case is moving through court and psychiatric review.

Overview

  • Police say the incident began Sunday afternoon when Chyvonne Juanita Palmer approached a man wearing a yarmulke in the Starbucks area of the Target on Biscayne Boulevard and struck him twice with a cellphone.
  • Officers arrested Palmer at the scene and she has been charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with prejudice, and disorderly conduct.
  • Surveillance video and multiple witness statements were collected as evidence, and two bystanders intervened to escort the victim to safety before police arrived.
  • At her first court appearance a judge ordered Palmer taken to Southern Winds Hospital for a mental‑health evaluation, and she later posted bond and was released while the investigation continues.
  • Target issued a statement condemning the attack and said it is cooperating with law enforcement, and local Jewish community members expressed concern about safety and the need for greater protection in public spaces.