Monday, September 7, 2015

Miami Police catch suspects in taxi cab shootout

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MIAMI (WSVN) -- A South Florida taxi driver was forced to act in self-defense when two armed suspects threatened him with a gun. After they exchanged gunfire with him, the duo fled the scene, but Miami Police caught them shortly after the shootout.
The alleged armed suspects, Christian Suarez and Nicole Iacono, attempted to rob the taxi driver and then shot at him, forcing the driver to retaliate and fire back shots of his own, said police.
After the altercation, the two fled the scene. Officials found the suspects at the Wishes Motel at 3530 Biscayne Blvd. Police detained both Suarez and Iacono along with two other suspects, who were in a hotel room.
Miami PD waited for the suspects to surrender outside their hotel door. They eventually did, hours later, without incident. 
The initial shootout occurred in the area of 3510 Biscayne Blvd., at around 7 a.m. "Man pulls out a gun, points it at that taxi driver's head," said Miami PD spokesperson Kenia Fallat. "There is an exchange of gunfire. Fortunate enough, nobody was hurt during that exchange of gunfire, but this man and woman were seen running into this hotel."
Officials tended to the driver, 30-year-old Jean Louis, who works for the Super Yellow Cab Company. He was uninjured but was questioned as his taxi cab was towed away as evidence.
"There's a gun right there. Semi-automatic pistol, shot like four, ten ... about five, six rounds out of it," said a witness.
One gun was collected nearby the scene at the corner of Biscayne Avenue and 35th Street, but off of 35th Terrace, officials found another gun tucked under the bushes behind the Wishes Hotel. "We were right across the street, stray bullets can fly anywhere," said one construction worker. 
Detectives have not said who the guns belong to but believe it came from the cab shootout. "Last I saw was a taxi driver with a gun in his hand after shots were fired," said Manny Ambrosio.
City of Miami Police said the uninjured driver appears to have been targeted during an attempted robbery that then turned into a shootout. "We didn't know which way the guy was running or what was going on," said Sampson. 
Despite it taking place during the morning rush hour Wednesday, no one was injured. 
Nearby construction workers were able to take a picture of a man, believed to be the cab driver, sitting on the curb as he spoke with investigators. Miami PD said the cab driver appears to have been targeted in the stick-up. 
Detectives said Louis picked up Suarez and Iacono near 54th Street and began driving south. Before reaching 36th Street, Louis said he felt a hard object on the back of his head and was ordered to turn on Northeast 35th Street. The duo and Louis then stepped out of the vehicle and shots were exchanged. 
All suspects are being questioned at the police department, including Louis. Miami PD confirmed that the shots fired were between two suspects and Louis. 
As for the motel, the building was left with scuffs from where the bullets landed on the side of the motel wall. Officials said they are reviewing surveillance video that came from the inside of the motel. They said the footage captures a man and a woman running from the scene in the direction of the hotel. 
If you have any information on this attempted robbery, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward

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