HankT
State Researcher
imported post
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong 'victim.'
Fort Lauderdale jeweler shoots 2 gunmen
Two men were in critical condition after trying to rob a family-owned jewelry store in Fort Lauderdale.
By ROBERTO SANTIAGO
R.C. WHITE/FOR THE MIAMI HERALD
A robbery suspect is wheeled from Bentley's Jewelers by paramedics after he was shot in the head.
A jewelry store owner critically wounded two armed men in a shootout Wednesday after the pair tried to rob his shop, police said.
The gun battle, at Bentley's Jewelers, 2753 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Laudrdale, left the two bandits in critical condition at Broward General Medical Center with life-threatening wounds.
A police spokeswoman said it is unlikely that store owner Hugo Villalta, whose gun is licensed, will face any charges.
Under Florida law, citizens are allowed to use deadly force to defend themselves or others if someone is in danger of death or great bodily harm.
The state's new ''Stand Your Ground'' law also says that citizens do not have a duty to try and retreat before using deadly force.
''If anyone ever makes a move on Hugo, they've made a huge mistake -- I think that's what happened today,'' Carter McDonald, 47, said of Villalta, his longtime friend.
Villalta, 43, battled the two thieves Wednesday shortly after 11 a.m. with his wife, Rosario, by his side.
The Villaltas, including their son, who was in the back of the store at the time and called 911, are ''upset'' but were not injured, police said.
''We have gone through a horrible day and no one can talk today,'' said a family member, who was reached by phone.
The aftermath inside the store, which Fort Lauderdale police immediately sealed off with yellow crime scene tape, was bloody and gruesome, said police spokeswoman Detective Kathy Collins.
The first gunman, with a gunshot wound between the eyes, was found lying with his gun still in his hand.
Collins said the unidentified gunman was brain-dead.
The second gunman, who also was not identified Wednesday, was shot in the chest.
FLED STORE
Somehow, he got out of the store and made it to his car. He later crashed into three cars, one of which was occupied.
The owner of the occupied car called 911, and within minutes Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors police captured him near Andrews Avenue.
SEARCH FOR GUN
''We are still looking for his gun, which apparently was tossed somewhere,'' said Collins.
Neither of the gunmen has been charged.
The entire crime scene was captured on the security cameras inside the store, said Collins, who said the grainy tapes can't be released while the investigation is ongoing.
Collins described what happened in the store:
The two men entered the store pretending to be customers.
They were buzzed in and approached the Villaltas. The men pulled out guns and shots were exchanged.
It is not clear who shot first, she said.
One gunman was hit between the eyes and fell.
The other shot his way out, walking backward, as he sustained bullet wounds to his chest and torso.
TIGHT SECURITY
McDonald said the store -- with an alarm, electronic gate, and video security system -- is set up so that the customer can't see what Villalta is doing with his arms..
''No one ever gets in without being buzzed,'' McDonald said.
"I can guarantee you, when [Hugo] presses the entry door, he has his hand on his gun at the same time.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/101762.html
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong 'victim.'
Fort Lauderdale jeweler shoots 2 gunmen
Two men were in critical condition after trying to rob a family-owned jewelry store in Fort Lauderdale.
By ROBERTO SANTIAGO
R.C. WHITE/FOR THE MIAMI HERALD
A robbery suspect is wheeled from Bentley's Jewelers by paramedics after he was shot in the head.
A jewelry store owner critically wounded two armed men in a shootout Wednesday after the pair tried to rob his shop, police said.
The gun battle, at Bentley's Jewelers, 2753 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Laudrdale, left the two bandits in critical condition at Broward General Medical Center with life-threatening wounds.
A police spokeswoman said it is unlikely that store owner Hugo Villalta, whose gun is licensed, will face any charges.
Under Florida law, citizens are allowed to use deadly force to defend themselves or others if someone is in danger of death or great bodily harm.
The state's new ''Stand Your Ground'' law also says that citizens do not have a duty to try and retreat before using deadly force.
''If anyone ever makes a move on Hugo, they've made a huge mistake -- I think that's what happened today,'' Carter McDonald, 47, said of Villalta, his longtime friend.
Villalta, 43, battled the two thieves Wednesday shortly after 11 a.m. with his wife, Rosario, by his side.
The Villaltas, including their son, who was in the back of the store at the time and called 911, are ''upset'' but were not injured, police said.
''We have gone through a horrible day and no one can talk today,'' said a family member, who was reached by phone.
The aftermath inside the store, which Fort Lauderdale police immediately sealed off with yellow crime scene tape, was bloody and gruesome, said police spokeswoman Detective Kathy Collins.
The first gunman, with a gunshot wound between the eyes, was found lying with his gun still in his hand.
Collins said the unidentified gunman was brain-dead.
The second gunman, who also was not identified Wednesday, was shot in the chest.
FLED STORE
Somehow, he got out of the store and made it to his car. He later crashed into three cars, one of which was occupied.
The owner of the occupied car called 911, and within minutes Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors police captured him near Andrews Avenue.
SEARCH FOR GUN
''We are still looking for his gun, which apparently was tossed somewhere,'' said Collins.
Neither of the gunmen has been charged.
The entire crime scene was captured on the security cameras inside the store, said Collins, who said the grainy tapes can't be released while the investigation is ongoing.
Collins described what happened in the store:
The two men entered the store pretending to be customers.
They were buzzed in and approached the Villaltas. The men pulled out guns and shots were exchanged.
It is not clear who shot first, she said.
One gunman was hit between the eyes and fell.
The other shot his way out, walking backward, as he sustained bullet wounds to his chest and torso.
TIGHT SECURITY
McDonald said the store -- with an alarm, electronic gate, and video security system -- is set up so that the customer can't see what Villalta is doing with his arms..
''No one ever gets in without being buzzed,'' McDonald said.
"I can guarantee you, when [Hugo] presses the entry door, he has his hand on his gun at the same time.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/467/story/101762.html
