Miami Garden Reopens

INDIANAPOLIS — A restaurant in the northwest part of the state has reopened after several people were stabbed in the parking lot two weeks ago. The owner says he has significantly increased security, but the business is struggling.

“I was speechless because I know when people are drunk things happen, but never in my wildest thoughts did I imagine it would get this bloody,” said a manager at the Miami Gardens, who asked not to be named.

The restaurant was already closed for the night when violence broke out outside on June 17.

“The party was a success, everything went well, we were closed,” recalls owner Motunrayo Akinfela. “For me, when I heard what happened the next morning, I was so depressed. I was disturbed.”

The owner of the Miami Garden said the venue used to reach full capacity on weekends, but only a fraction of that crowd showed up last weekend when it reopened for the first time since the stabbing. It had been temporarily closed by the Pike Township Fire Department for unrelated code violations, which have since been resolved.

“Maybe with time. I hope things will improve,” Akinfela said.

She wants customers to feel safe again. The Miami Garden has opted for a new security company, twice as expensive, with more extensive searches, parking lot patrols and armed guards.

“We have put all our efforts, energy and money, and made extra efforts to improve things, especially in security, to ensure their safety,” Akinfela said.

The restaurant is mentioned in a handful of police reports over the past year and a half about disturbances and even gunfire — including an incident in February 2023 in which eight cars in the parking lot were shot at by someone driving on a nearby street.

“From what we heard on the street, they said someone brought his girlfriend to the club,” Akinfela said. “He started spraying all the cars. My car was also hit, he shot at my car too.”

As for the knife attack, Estinfil Filsmagre, 27, was among the nine injured and is now charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault for his role.

“I express my sympathy to the customers who were stabbed,” the unnamed manager added. “We visited some of them, they are all in good condition. We hope and pray that things like this will not happen again.”

At the time of Filsmagre’s arrest, IMPD said the investigation was ongoing to determine if any other people would be charged in connection with the incident. When asked if that was still the case today, IMPD said there were no updates to share.