Homeless, Armless Artist In Miami Accused Of Stabbing Tourist

A homeless man in Miami known for painting with his feet stabbed a tourist with scissors on Tuesday, police said.

Jonathan Crenshaw, 46, is a fixture on Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach, according to the Miami Herald. He's often seen painting with bright colors, surrounded by tourists and passersby. On Tuesday, just after midnight, however, it was a different scene. Crenshaw allegedly grabbed a pair of scissors with his feet and stabbed Cesar Coronado, 22, a tourist visiting from Chicago.

Crenshaw said he was lying down, according to police, when Coronado came up to him and punched him right in his head. He stabbed Coronado twice and stashed the scissors into his waistband before he walked away quickly, police said. Coronado was found by police laying on the ground with a bleeding injury from his left arm. He was transported to a nearby hospital. 

Coronado's account to police was different than Crenshaw's. He said he simply asked the armless artist for directions, police said, and Crenshaw jumped up and stabbed him. Police found Crenshaw nearby, and when he was asked about the stabbing he told them he was defending himself.

No one knows exactly when Crenshaw came to Miami Beach, according to the Miami New Times, but he has a lengthy arrest record going back to 2008, including trespassing, disorderly intoxication and a lot of battering police charges. It's clear that Crenshaw has some troubles, the New Times reports.

"Sometimes I wish I were dead," he told the paper in an interview. "I'm not trying to kill myself or anything. But then I wouldn't have to suffer."

Crenshaw was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and taken to jail. He was given a $7,500 bond, and he'll be in court on July 18.

[Photos: Miami Dade Corrections]