SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — Two teens are in critical condition after home invaders broke into their Southwest Miami-Dade home, and beat them with a blunt object.
According to police, 19-year-old Freddie Gallegos and his younger brother, 15-year-old Alex Gallegos, were home alone, off Southwest 284th Street and 141st Avenue, when they were confronted by the intruders, at around 8:30 a.m., Monday.
7News was the only TV station invited inside the home after the crime scene tape was taken down.
The victims’ mother, Martha Martinez, was at work when the two men stormed her house and attacked her children. "My kids are good kids. They were sleeping when this happened. I mean, I don’t know what else to tell you," she said. "When I got here, they already took them to the hospital."
Both teens were beaten and robbed of jewelry by two masked men. "The fact that these individuals were brazen enough to go inside the house and, without the victims putting up any resistance whatsoever, immediately they struck them over the head with a blunt object several times, almost killing them," said Miami-Dade Detective Alvaro Zabaleta.
The two men entered the house and within seconds the attack started, said Zabaleta. The older victim, he said, was attacked first. "Without any demands or struggle, he begins to strike him over the head with some type of blunt object over the head. He screams for help. The 15-year-old brother comes out to assist him, and that’s when he’s confronted by another subject who begins to strike him in the head, as well."
After grabbing some jewelry and other personal belongings from inside the house, the men took off, leaving the two teen brothers on the floor, fighting for their lives. "It is a bloody scene inside that residence, and it goes to show how violent these two individuals are," Zabaleta said.
They were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Doctors said they are expected to be OK.
Within a couple of hours, Martinez arrived at JMH to see her sons. "I want to go see my kids, I’m sorry," Martinez said at the hospital. "I mean the police is going to do their work, so I’m just, let them do their work."
Later that afternoon, homeowner Imandra Pupo who lives next door found her laptop, sneakers and personal items stolen. "They went through everything," she said. "I don’t want to come home."
Pupo recently moved into her Southwest Miami-Dade home, but this was not the welcome she wanted. "If I could break my lease right now, I would leave everything that’s left in here and leave," she said.
Police are investigating to see if the two crimes are connected. "Somebody had to see these individuals flee from the area," Zabaleta said. "Whether they got in a car, a bike, motorcycle. Somebody had to see something."
If you have any information on this home invasion 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.