As explained under section 784.021 Florida Statutes, aggravated assault is defined as:
1. An “aggravated assault” is an assault:
(a) With a deadly weapon without intent to kill; or
(b) With an intent to commit a felony.
2. (Whoever commits an aggravated assault shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree…
It’s important to note that a deadly weapon is not confined to just a knife or a gun. According to the Florida Aggravated Assault statute, a “deadly weapon” is a weapon that is used or threatened to be used in a way that is likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
The definition of a deadly weapon is broad. You could be brandishing a pocket knife, using a bottle to strike an alleged victim, or using your vehicle to inflict harm and either could be constituted as aggravated assault in Florida.
In the context of our scenario above, think about aggravated assault as threatening the person who shoved you with a gun, or pulling a knife on them. It can lead to aggravated assault charges which carry more steep penalties than simple assault.