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Reports: Miami 'zombie' attacker may have been using 'bath salts'
A naked man who chewed off the face of another man in what is being called a zombie-like attack may have been under the influence of "bath salts," a drug referred to as the new LSD, according to reports from CNN affiliates in Miami.
Why 'bath salts' are dangerous
The horrific attack occurred Saturday and was only stopped after a police officer shot the attacker several times, killing him.
'Zombie apocalypse' trending as bad news spreads quickly
Larry Vega witnessed the attack on Miami's MacArthur Causeway. He told CNN affiliate WSVN he saw one naked man chewing off the face of another naked man.
Rudy Eugene
"The guy was like tearing him to pieces with his mouth, so I told him, 'Get off!'" Vega told WSVN. "You know it's like the guy just kept eating the other guy away, like ripping his skin."
"It was just a blob of blood," WSVN quoted Vega as saying. "You couldn't really see, it was just blood all over the place."
Vega said he flagged down a passing police officer.
"When the officer approached him, told him to stop, pointed a gun at him, he turned around and growled like a wild animal and kept eating at the man's face," Fraternal Order of Police President Armando Aguilar told CNN affiliate WPLG.
The attacker was identified by Miami-Dade Police as 31-year-old Rudy Eugene. Miami-Dade referred CNN to Miami Police for all other details of the investigation.
Augilar said he suspects the attacker was under the influence of "bath salts." Four other drug use instances in Miami-Dade bear resemblances to Saturday's attack, he told WPLG.
"It causes them to go completely insane and become very violent" and take off their clothes, Augilar told WPLG.
Dr. Paul Adams, an emergency room physician at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, told CNN affiliate WFOR that the drug makes users delirious. They exhibit elevated temperatures and extreme physical strength, Adams said.
“I took care of a 150 pound individual who you would have thought he was 250 pounds,” WFOR quoted Adams as saying. “It took six security officers to restrain the individual.”
Adams said users have been known to use their jaws as weapons, according to WFOR.
According to a 2011 report from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, bath salts contain amphetamine-like chemicals.
"Doctors and clinicians at U.S. poison centers have indicated that ingesting or snorting 'bath salts' containing synthetic stimulants can cause chest pains, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, agitation, hallucinations, extreme paranoia, and delusions," according to the NIDA report.
In October, the Drug Enforcement Administration made possession of the stimulants in bath salts, Mephedrone, 3,4 methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and Methylone, illegal under an emergency order. The order lasts for a year with a possible six-month extension.
The stimulants have been placed under restrictions or banned in 37 states, according to a DEA press release.
The victim of Saturday's attack, whom police have not identified, was in critical condition at Jackson Memorial on Monday, according to the WPLG report. Augilar told WPLG that 75% to 80% of his face was missing.
Eugene had an arrest record, mostly misdemeanors, including a battery charge from when he was 16 that was later dropped, according to the Miami Herald.
He had been married but divorced in 2007, WPLG reported. His former wife told the station that Eugene had been violent toward her.
Homeless people near where the attack took place said Eugene was often seen around the area looking confused, according to WPLG.
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if I was there, it would have been "blood (and puke) all over the place"
And people mocked my preparing for the zombie apocalypse! Yeah, who's laughing now?
@zombie apocalypse..this is what happens when Hollywood keep feeding D-grade movies to Americans. I wonder if those americans ever realize the world is MUCH MUCH bigger than USofA and there are no zombies or apocalypse out there.
Hmm, The UK had skyrocketing use of these chemicals for years (they were actually more popular then extacy) before they outlawed them but not a single incident like this... prehaps this has more to do with the fact that we routinely dump our mentally ill onto the streets- I'm just sayin....
Please note that CNN did not make up the reference as the "New LSD". It has been referred to this by law enforcement. Don't criticize CNN for being the messenger.
This is the stuff Demi Moore was using. Pretty sure she chewed somebody's face off before she got to the rehab.
The new LSD? Are you kidding me? More like the new meth or pcp! Bath salts are nothing like LSD.
totally! someone should sue for defaming the good name of LSD
The comparison to LSD is bc the drug can cause you to hallucinate. Some LSD trips are good, and some are violent and frightening. Just like with LSD you don't know what trip you are going to get when you do bath salts. Just talked to some junkies about this drug- it's very bad and very addicting.
I can't believe he showed violent tendencies toward his ex.
Yes!!!!
Why no one should go ANYWHERE without a gun.
So lets get this straight.... NON GUN OWNERS should be forced to carry guns to protect your right to? What if a person doesnt want to have to carry a gun. What if NON GUN OWNERS WERE ACTUALLY THE MAJORITY IN THIS COUNTRY even if not all of them can vote? Better we should trust gun owners to protect the rest of us? Gun accidents and holdent caufield incidents happen every week in this country and every day depending on where you live. Official channels hide just how bad our handgun violence problem really is from the public. Its not really funny because every single week somebody unconnected to firearms gets killed to protect your right (which is deliberately and illegally misinterpreted as broadly as possible for a number of ends none of which has to do with your rights or justice) I refuse to carry a handgun to protect your right to carry a handgun. Your right to carry a handgun and police rights to carry around handguns HAVE TO GO. Anyone over the age of 18 who hasnt been charged with a gun crime should have the right to own a legitimate sporting firearm ie. a shotgun or riftle, thats it. Guns dont kill people... People with handguns kill people!
Another diversity attack.
Did I miss something or is this the new Southbeach diet?
If Obama had a son, he'd look like Rudy. Wait a minute....Obummer says he has 'sons' – there is another zombie out there folks. Watch out Chicago!
Just as long as it isn't a new influenza virus....
Bienvenidos a Miami – thanks but no thanks...
This victim really needed a gun and the support of the STAND YOUR GROUND LAW!