The roommate of the suspect in what officials called a brutal and random beach attack says she was stunned by the accusations. According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, a woman was walking on Tiger Shores Beach in Martin County, Florida, when she was attacked from behind. Budensiek said the suspect grabbed her around the throat, dragged her into the ocean, and held her down as she struggled to break free.The suspect, identified as Said Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez, was arrested Sunday while threatening to kill himself. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsWPBF 25 News spoke with his roommate, Valentina Medina, who said she was absolutely shocked to learn of the accusations. WPBF 25 News has translated her interview from Spanish to English. “He was a normal person, well-educated. We never saw him behave strangely towards my family, towards my son. He always told me that if he could help me, he would; he was very kind. He didn’t seem like a strange person at all,” Medina said. She said they only lived together for a short time, and she didn’t know him all that well, but she never got the impression he could do something like what he’s being accused of. “He was very kind; he was never mean, rude, or anything like that. Apparently, perhaps, since I didn’t know him very well, I don’t know,” she said. Medina said she was home when investigators showed up to arrest Hernandez-Gonzalez.”His girlfriend explained to me he was unwell after what happened; he was very ill, and he wanted to commit suicide. He was in a bad way,” she said. She said she hasn’t spoken to him since his arrest. “What I heard last was that he was very sorry, very sorry, that he doesn’t know why he did it,” Medina said. According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Hernandez-Gonzalez is in the United States illegally and is also being held for immigration authorities. Medina said he was arrested the day before he was planning to leave the country.”He was going to Spain for two months. He had his ticket to leave yesterday for Barcelona,” she said. A search of court records across Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County, and Martin County shows Hernandez-Gonzalez does not have a criminal record. Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here. The Martin County Sheriff said Hernandez-Gonzalez told them he only stopped the attack once he thought the victim was dead. When deputies told Hernandez-Gonzalez the victim was still alive and asked if he felt remorse, the sheriff said Hernandez-Gonzalez replied, “No, I don’t feel nothing.”He’s being held in the Martin County Jail on a charge of attempted first-degree murder.

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —

The roommate of the suspect in what officials called a brutal and random beach attack says she was stunned by the accusations.

According to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek, a woman was walking on Tiger Shores Beach in Martin County, Florida, when she was attacked from behind. Budensiek said the suspect grabbed her around the throat, dragged her into the ocean, and held her down as she struggled to break free.

The suspect, identified as Said Alexander Hernandez-Gonzalez, was arrested Sunday while threatening to kill himself.

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

WPBF 25 News spoke with his roommate, Valentina Medina, who said she was absolutely shocked to learn of the accusations.

WPBF 25 News has translated her interview from Spanish to English.

“He was a normal person, well-educated. We never saw him behave strangely towards my family, towards my son. He always told me that if he could help me, he would; he was very kind. He didn’t seem like a strange person at all,” Medina said.

She said they only lived together for a short time, and she didn’t know him all that well, but she never got the impression he could do something like what he’s being accused of.

“He was very kind; he was never mean, rude, or anything like that. Apparently, perhaps, since I didn’t know him very well, I don’t know,” she said.

Medina said she was home when investigators showed up to arrest Hernandez-Gonzalez.

“His girlfriend explained to me he was unwell after what happened; he was very ill, and he wanted to commit suicide. He was in a bad way,” she said. She said she hasn’t spoken to him since his arrest.

“What I heard last was that he was very sorry, very sorry, that he doesn’t know why he did it,” Medina said.

According to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Hernandez-Gonzalez is in the United States illegally and is also being held for immigration authorities. Medina said he was arrested the day before he was planning to leave the country.

“He was going to Spain for two months. He had his ticket to leave yesterday for Barcelona,” she said.

A search of court records across Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County, and Martin County shows Hernandez-Gonzalez does not have a criminal record.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

The Martin County Sheriff said Hernandez-Gonzalez told them he only stopped the attack once he thought the victim was dead. When deputies told Hernandez-Gonzalez the victim was still alive and asked if he felt remorse, the sheriff said Hernandez-Gonzalez replied, “No, I don’t feel nothing.”

He’s being held in the Martin County Jail on a charge of attempted first-degree murder.