MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A car stolen by an armed carjacking in Miami Beach has been recovered, and police have one person in custody.
Just a day after the family found themselves confronted by a man brandishing an assault rifle in their own driveway, police have located the stolen Dodge Challenger in Northeast Miami-Dade.
After hours of waiting, Alexander Fumaroe was finally allowed to retrieve his car. “Yeah. it looks good,” he said.
Cellphone video captured the joy as a tow truck unhooked the muscle car.
The owner described to 7News the condition of the vehicle.
“Inside [it’s] really dirty,” Fumarov said. “Smells [like] marijuana, tobacco.”
After getting the car back, they rushed to the trunk where they’d left all of their Christmas gifts. Fortunately, most of it was still there.
“It’s crazy. They didn’t take our electric scooter,” victim Dasha Motorna said. “It’s really pricey, so they don’t know about it. I see that parts of it are here.”
A treasured piece from her home country was also recovered in the car.
“My little friend is here too,” Motorna said. “It’s musical instrument from Ukraine. I was really sad about it.”
One man was taken into custody for questioning, but it is unclear if he was involved in the carjacking.
Fumaroe and Andre Kyryllov were returning home from a Christmas party when they heard the tap of metal on their car window.
It was a man wielding an AK-47.
“He saw me inside of the car, he pointed a gun at me,” Kyryllov said. “I told him, ‘Hey, I’m with a kid.'”
The six family members turned over their keys, wallets and phones, and the two suspects got away in the muscle car.
A 7-year-old child was asleep in the car at the time, and Fymaroe said the child managed to sleep through the whole ordeal.
“She sleep,” Fumaroe said breathing a sigh of relief.
The victims said the brazen gunmen were not covering their face despite there being a surveillance camera outside. Unfortunately, the camera was not working at the time.
7News cameras were rolling as detectives checked for fingerprints on the car.
The family from the Ukraine said they were grateful for detectives’ quick work. However, Fumaroe said, he is shocked that the crime took place in what he believed to be a safe area.
“What a strange situation,” Fumaroe said. “[How’s] it possible? This [is] Miami Beach. I really think every time I live in the best area, and I really love this place.”
He was pleased with the work done by law enforcement in the case.
“In my country if car is stolen, people are like, goodbye car,” he said. “But here in the United States it is a great job!”
Despite the praise for detectives, they still feel a little less safe.
“Before I thought that Miami Beach was very good place to raise kids, and it’s so cozy and safe,” Motorna said. “But now, I’m not sure.”
“I really appreciate the Miami Beach Police Department,” Fumaroe added. “Very fast, very quickly. Amazing. Thank you so much.”
If you have any information on this carjacking, 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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