A 55 Year Old Man is Behind Bars After Stabbing A Man Following A Disturbance
On Feb. 5, 2026 at approximately 10:56 a.m., Winter Haven Police responded to the call of a stabbing located at a residence on Lucerne Loop Rd. in Winter Haven. When officers arrived, they found the 38 year-old male victim with a stab wound to the upper left side of his chest.
Officers immediately began life-saving measures until paramedics from Winter Haven Fire arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening injuries.
While care was being given to the victim, additional officers immediately began interviewing everyone who was in the area in an attempt to gain information on the suspect. Officers were able to identify and locate 55 year-old Adrian Renard Abrams and took him into custody without incident.
Investigators took custody of Abrams and started the investigation into the incident. Abrams recounted the disturbance for investigators stating that he had been sleeping and the victim entered the room and started to tackle and punch him in the face and head. Abrams stated that he had to defend himself after being attacked, so he retrieved the knife and stabbed the victim.
Abrams was further questioned as to how and from where he retrieved the knife. He indicated that after the initial attack, the victim left the residence to walk outside and Abrams followed to the kitchen to get a knife.
After retrieving a five-inch kitchen knife, Abrams continued outside, located the victim approximately 20 feet away and told the victim, “I’m gonna stab you.” Once making the statement, Abrams stabbed the victim in the chest. Investigators concluded that the actions of Abrams was willful and deliberate after the initial altercation had concluded and the pair were in separate locations.
Based on the statements and evidence gathered during the investigations, Abrams was charged with one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (F2). Abrams was transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Facility.
“Our officers and detectives were able to quickly take control of the scene and ascertain a possible suspect,” said Police Chief Vance Monroe. “Their diligence and dedication resulted in the swift arrest of this suspect who could have let cooler heads prevail, but chose otherwise.”
