A 28-year-old Connecticut man was fatally stabbed early this week as he was embarking on one of the biggest to-do items on his bucket list - a bike ride beginning in Maryland and ending in Miami, where he planned to propose to his girlfriend.

Kevin Adorno was a graphic designer from Unionville, Connecticut, who began his bike journey just last month. However, Adorno's journey was cut short during a fatal encounter with a homeless man in Vero Beach, Florida.

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According to police officers, Adorno was on the phone with his girlfriend when the attack occurred. Adorno had made a quick stop at a local McDonald's and was planning to continue on his journey before he was spotted by Rene Herrera Cruz, a homeless man.

Cruz, 59, is a Cuban expatriate who recently moved from Miami to Venero Beach. Police said Cruz approached Adorno and fatally stabbed him before running away from the scene of the crime.

Two witnesses from the McDonald's saw Cruz as he fled across the 1900 block of US1 toward a Burger King.

In spite of being wounded, Adorno was quick to react to his attack, and dragged himself into the McDonald's, where he pleaded to employees and customers to assist him with his injuries.

As a McDonald's employee tended to Adorno's injuries, another called 911. Shortly after, police and paramedics showed up and brought Adorno to the Indian River Medical Center. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police later found an engagement ring in Adorno's backpack; he had planned to propose to his girlfriend once he reached Miami.

As officers investigated the crime scene, they discovered that Cruz had thrown his knife underneath a nearby bush. It was not long after that the officers discovered Cruz in a Burger King and arrested him.

Once questioned, Cruz admitted to stabbing Adorno, believing that Adorno was ordering someone on his phone to attack Cruz. He also told police that someone inside the McDonald's was ordering Adorno to attack him via laptop.

It turned out that this was not the first time this weekend that the local police had dealt with Cruz; on Sunday night, Cruz had called 911 from the McDonald's, believing that someone was trying to hurt him.

Cruz's record with the police is not a clean one. In addition to his most recent criminal acts, Cruz has been in legal trouble for marijuana possession, cocaine smuggling, and battery, among other illegal activities.

Despite his past, Cruz has never spent any time in prison for any of the crimes he committed.

Cruz is now charged with first degree murder and is being held without bail.  

When interviewed  by the police, Adorno's girlfriend mentioned that she did not hear any sounds from Cruz's attack on Adorno when they were talking on the phone. She only heard Adorno's phone drop to the pavement, and then silence followed.

The next things she heard were sirens blaring in the background.

TagsKevin Adorno, Maryland, Florida, Miami, Venero Beach, Mcdonalds, burger king, Rene Herrera Cruz, Cuba, Indian River Medical Center, stabbing, police, first degree murder, prison, charges, cocaine, battery, marijuana posession