Brenton Clarke, a 36-year-old New York man, has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges related to the brutal beating deaths of two men and the hospitalization of two others in downtown Miami.
The incident occurred on January 16, 2025, when Clarke allegedly attacked people sleeping on the sidewalk near North Miami Avenue and Northwest Sixth Street with a metal rod. The victims, Kinard Shirley, 37, and Marshall Ragsdale, 66, were killed in the attack, while a man and a woman were seriously injured.
Clarke was arrested shortly after the incident, with surveillance footage leading detectives to him. He was found wearing bloodstained clothes and was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of robbery with a deadly weapon.
During his arraignment hearing on February 6, 2025, Clarke entered a written plea of not guilty through his public defender. He remains at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he will stay for the remainder of his trial.
Friends and family of the victims remembered Shirley and Ragsdale as hard-working and endearing men. Many were shocked by the sudden news of their “violent” and “senseless” deaths.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of homeless individuals in downtown Miami. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is handling the case, and Clarke faces life in prison if convicted of the charges against him.
The community is still reeling from the shock of the incident, and many are calling for justice for the victims and their families. As the trial proceeds, the focus will be on ensuring that Clarke is held accountable for his actions and that the victims receive the justice they deserve.
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