An armed robbery at a tattoo shop in Miami-Dade has left one of its employees critically injured after being shot at least once. The incident occurred on Thursday around 8:00 pm at Eazy Street Tattoos, located in a shopping plaza at 56th Street and 134th Avenue Southwest in the Kendale Lakes area.
The victim, identified as César Sánchez, was with a coworker taking a break in the back of the shop when they were accosted by two armed men who demanded their belongings.
"He tried to escape and was shot by one of the suspects. The suspect then took the victim's belongings and fled the area in an unknown direction," said Andre Martin, spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police, as reported by America TeVe.
Sánchez was transported in critical condition to Kendall Hospital, where he is now in stable condition. From there, he revealed to Local 10 that one of the robbers was a client he had been tattooing over several sessions. That night, the client returned without an appointment under the pretext of finishing the session but first asked to smoke with him behind the shop. When they finished, the accomplice arrived and threatened him with a gun.
"I went to open the door, had my hand on the knob, and that's when the guy I didn't know put the gun in my face," Sánchez recounted.
Sánchez tried to defend himself from his attackers but felt a shot in his back as he ran towards the interior of the shop.
"I took three steps inside the tattoo shop, and the other guy shot me. I guess he panicked because he didn't expect me to fight back," he said.
The Miami-Dade Police reported that after shooting him, the assailants stole a $30,000 Rolex, a $20,000 Cuban link chain, and two bracelets from the victim. They then fled in his car.
The other employee was unharmed during the robbery.
"He is one of my clients. He robbed me for no reason. I never did anything to harm him. I can't understand why someone I trusted would do this," Sánchez lamented.
The police spokesperson said they are reviewing surveillance footage from the plaza that captured the entire robbery.
"Detectives are working with a lot of evidence and information at the scene, which is good. We have witnesses being interviewed and some very solid leads in this case, but no arrests have been made yet," added Andre Martin.
Anyone with information about the case can contact the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers line at (305) 471-8477.
Details on Miami-Dade Tattoo Shop Robbery
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the armed robbery at Eazy Street Tattoos in Miami-Dade.
What time did the robbery at Eazy Street Tattoos occur?
The robbery took place around 8:00 pm on Thursday.
Who was the victim of the robbery?
The victim was identified as César Sánchez, an employee of Eazy Street Tattoos.
What items were stolen during the robbery?
The robbers stole a $30,000 Rolex, a $20,000 Cuban link chain, and two bracelets from the victim.
How can people provide information about the case?
Anyone with information can contact the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers line at (305) 471-8477.