A Florida resident, Jammacar Rodkesh Gayle, 40, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following a violent altercation in a supermarket that left a woman severely injured. Gayle was found guilty by a jury in March after a three-day trial in Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit. The sentence was handed down on Monday for one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon or causing great bodily harm, according to the state’s attorney.
The incident took place at the Milan Supermarket in Port Charlotte, a large community located about 30 miles northwest of Fort Myers. On June 9, 2023, Gayle was shopping with his children and ex-wife when a verbal dispute erupted over his children’s behavior with another woman in the store, as per the arrest affidavit from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
The argument initially involved Gayle’s ex-wife and the victim, with Gayle remaining uninvolved. However, the situation escalated when the victim returned to the meat counter after collecting part of her order. A physical altercation ensued between the two women, which led to Gayle stepping in.
Surveillance footage showed the victim pushing Gayle against a meat cooler. In response, Gayle grabbed a cast iron pan from a store shelf, intending to hit the victim. His eldest daughter intervened, taking the pan from him. Undeterred, Gayle then took an 8-inch chef knife from a shelf, removed it from its packaging, and began attacking the victim.
Following the assault, Gayle fled the scene. Despite her severe injuries, the victim attempted to follow him to capture a photo of his license plate. Gayle, still holding the knife, threatened her again before leaving with his family. First responders found the victim in critical condition, suffering from significant bleeding from her abdomen and head.
The victim, a regular customer at the store along with the Gayle family, had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital for lifesaving treatment. Meanwhile, Gayle attempted to cover up his crime by disposing of his blood-stained clothes and fleeing to New York.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office used surveillance footage to identify Gayle’s vehicle and license plate, leading them to his residence. A search warrant led to the discovery of the knife used in the attack and the bloodied clothes hidden in the trash. Gayle was arrested the following day in Queens, New York, by U.S. Marshals and extradited back to Florida.