A South Florida social media influencer and her mother are recovering from the traumatic aftermath of a violent attack by the influencer’s former stepfather.
Eixchel Berroteran, known as Eixchelb to her 4.3 million TikTok followers, recounted the terrifying encounter in their Miami apartment on August 21, where she and her mother narrowly escaped with their lives.
The alleged assailant, 64-year-old Luis Damas, had been married to Berroteran’s mother, Francys Damas, for 13 years before their separation eight months ago.
According to reports, Damas showed up at their apartment unannounced, armed with a gun, intending to kill both women.
Influencer Eixchel Berroteran and Mother Survive Brutal Attack by Former Stepfather
The horrifying sequence of events began when Damas knocked on their door and was initially turned away by Francys, who had a friend visiting at the time.
Hours later, as the friend left, Damas was still lingering in the hallway, waiting for an opportunity to confront his ex-wife and stepdaughter.
A confrontation quickly ensued, during which Damas accused Berroteran of being the reason for the couple’s separation.
As the argument escalated, Damas forced his way into the apartment, pulled out a gun, and made his way to Eixchel Berroteran’s bedroom.
The influencer described the harrowing moment when Damas pointed the gun at her and declared, “I’m going to kill you,” before firing a shot that narrowly missed her.
In a desperate attempt to save herself, Berroteran hid under a mattress while her mother bravely fought to disarm Damas.
The struggle continued as Damas violently attacked both women, at one point grabbing Berroteran by the hair and slamming her to the floor.
Francys, in her determination to protect her daughter, sustained multiple injuries, including bite marks on her stomach, as she wrestled with her ex-husband.
Despite the intense fear, Francys managed to calm Damas down enough to prevent further violence.
However, he forced her to clean up the scene, threatening their lives if they contacted authorities.
The women delayed calling the police, fearing retaliation from Damas, who claimed to have connections with dangerous individuals.
It wasn’t until the following day, after seeking medical treatment, that they reported the incident to the authorities.
Damas was later arrested on charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. He is currently being held without bond.
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In an emotional Instagram post, Eixchel Berroteran expressed her gratitude for surviving the ordeal but also conveyed the deep psychological scars left by the attack.
“Trauma hurts more than physical injuries,” she wrote, vowing to use her platform to speak out against abuse and violence.
The incident has left both women living in fear, unsure of what the future holds, but determined to seek justice for the terror they endured.
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