A 29-year-old resident of Hialeah, Valeria Andrea Aguilar, found herself in police custody on Wednesday following an altercation at the Costco gas station situated at 7795 West Flagler Street in western Miami-Dade. The incident occurred after she pursued and assaulted another woman who had suggested revoking Aguilar's membership due to her behavior, as reported by Telemundo 51.
Details from the arrest report by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, as covered by the media outlet, reveal that the dispute began around 1:40 p.m. Aguilar was reportedly shouting at fellow customers and a gas station employee.
Escalating Confrontation
The situation intensified when the victim, driving a Subaru Forester, approached the scene and requested the employee to revoke Aguilar's Costco membership because of her disruptive behavior.
Rather than de-escalating, Aguilar chased the victim's vehicle and then followed in her Toyota Corolla for about half a mile, reaching the intersection of Northwest Seventh Street and 82nd Avenue.
At this location, Aguilar confronted the woman through her open driver's window, striking her on the head. The arrest report also notes that Aguilar grabbed the victim's clothing and scratched her face, arms, and chest.
Defensive Measures and Aftermath
Fearing for her life, the victim armed herself with a multi-tool axe and began striking Aguilar before fleeing the scene, according to the police report.
Aguilar sustained multiple injuries, including lacerations on her face and arms, bruises, scratches, and a nasal injury. Following the incident, she was apprehended at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where she received medical treatment for injuries inflicted by the victim's tool, prior to being transported to jail. Her booking photo reveals several stitched wounds on her face, alongside facial tattoos.
Legal Consequences
Facing a charge of assault causing injury, Aguilar is up against a first-degree felony in Florida, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
Such incidents are not uncommon in Miami-Dade, which holds the reputation of being Florida's most perilous county for driving and ranks third nationwide for road rage incidents, scoring 56.15 in aggressive driving according to 2025 data.
During a Thursday court appearance, a judge ruled that Aguilar be held without bail and imposed a stay-away order from the Costco location and the alleged victim.
Understanding Road Rage in Miami-Dade
What led to Valeria Aguilar's arrest?
Valeria Aguilar was arrested after chasing and physically assaulting a woman at a Costco gas station following a dispute over her behavior.
What charges does Aguilar face?
Aguilar faces a charge of assault causing injury, a first-degree felony in Florida that could lead to a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
How prevalent are road rage incidents in Miami-Dade?
Miami-Dade is considered the most dangerous county in Florida for driving and ranks third in the U.S. for road rage incidents, with a high aggressive driving score.