Florida fruit vendor accused of pointing loaded gun at competitor over sugar cane juice prices

STOCK ISLAND, Fla. — A Florida fruit vendor is accused of pointing a handgun at a competitor during an argument over the price of sugar cane juice, authorities said.

Yoan Torres Quinones, 36, of Key West, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is also charged with carrying a concealed firearm without a license and improper exhibition of a weapon, Monroe County Jail records show.

Quinones and the alleged 50-year-old victim are both fruit vendors on Stock Island, located just east of Key West. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the vendor flagged down a Key West police officer near the Hurricane Hole Restaurant & Marina on Tuesday afternoon.

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A sheriff’s deputy soon responded to the scene, where the vendor showed the deputy a video that showed Quinones arguing with him in Spanish. Quinones at one point lifts his shirt and shows a handgun he has tucked into his waistband.

“The victim stated Torres Quinones came over to his fruit stand and started arguing with him for undercutting his price on sugar cane juice,” sheriff’s office officials said. “Torres Quinones sells his sugar cane juice at his fruit stand on 5th Street for $3, whereas the victim sells his sugar cane juice for $2.

“Torres Quinones demanded the victim raise his sugar cane juice price to $3, but the victim declined. Torres Quinones then displayed the handgun and said he would fire every bullet into the victim.”

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Sugar cane juice is used to make guarapo, a beverage popular in Latin American countries like Cuba and Colombia.

The deputy went to Quinones’ fruit stand, where he spotted the vendor wearing the same outfit that he wore in the video.

“A gun matching the features seen in the video was found in his vehicle. The firearm was a loaded .380-caliber Bersa handgun,” authorities said.

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