MIAMI (CBS4) ― CITY OF MIAMI POLICE
Miami Police conjured up images of the wild west when they said the owner of a Miami business showed "tombstone-like courage" when he shot and wounded two young men as they allegedly tried to rob his auto tire business. Now those two are in the hospital and police are on the hunt for a third young man.
The shooting reminded neighbor Dylan Terry of the Wild West when he described the barrage of bullets and shots fired.
"Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow," said Terry, who works at a business next to the tire shop. "I've never been around a shooting like this so I was a little freaked out."
Police say initially three robbers targeted Okay Auto Tire Service at Northwest 2nd Ave. and 42nd Street sometime before noon Friday. Four people were inside the shop at the time: the owner, the owner's son and two employees.
Police say the owner, identified as Omar Rangel, was being held at gunpoint by 17-year-old Joseph White, who ordered Rangel and his employees to the ground. According to an arrest affidavit, White passed a silver revolver to 27-year-old Dwayne Hudson.
Hudson continued to threaten Rangel with the gun while White rifled through the victims' pockets. A third, unidentified young man "kept going in and out of the business to make sure nobody was coming," the arrest affidavit reports.
When the robbers weren't looking, 45-year-old Rangel of Miami, who was carrying a handgun in his front pocket, pulled his gun out and shot four times.
Police originally reported that White or Hudson fired the first shot, but missed. The arrest affidavit makes no mention of a possible first shot fired by the robbers.
"One victim (Rangel) with roots of a warrior had a weapon," said Miami Police Officer Jeff Giordano. He told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that "He showed tombstone-like courage when he fired at the offenders."
Rangel, police said, shot two of the three crooks.
"It appears he (Rangel) clearly was trying to defend himself and the business," said Giordano. "This shows criminals that they need to watch out if they think they're going to easily take advantage of someone like this."
Hudson was shot in the chest and fell to the ground. White was shot in the left kneecap and was able to run from the scene.
Hudson was taken by Miami Fire Rescue to Jackson memorial Hospital, where he was later arrested.
White was later dropped at Jackson's Emergency Room.
When Rangel returned home after being questioned by Police, he told CBS4's Gio Benitez that he did not want to talk because he was worried about retaliation. He said he worried his home might become the target of a drive-by shooting. He also said he was worried about living where he now owns a home.
"This man worked hard for his living. This was not right," said Barbara Herrings, a Miami resident.
Many neighbors like Herrings expressed similar sentiments, lauding Rangel's actions, saying he had a right to defend himself when the robbers descended on his business.
"They can't be doing this. You have the right to defend yourself, no matter what you do," Herrings said.
"If you come to rob me, I am going to defend myself. This has got to stop," said Miami resident Tyrone Lamar.
Police say the third robber fled the scene in a white car. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
FL - Tire shop owner shoots 2 out of 3 robbers.
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Originally Posted by Grayling14
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