MIAMI (WSVN) - It was a close call for a South Florida driver when a gunman opened fire on his car, but police were able to place the suspect under arrest.
According to City of Miami Police, the incident happened along Northeast 36th Street, near Biscayne Boulevard, a few blocks from the Shops at Midtown, just before 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
The ordeal left the victim, 39-year-old Marco Lopez, shaken. Wednesday night, he showed 7News four bullet holes left in his Toyota Corolla.
Lopez told detectives he was stopped in traffic near the Denny’s on Biscayne Boulevard when the suspect pointed a handgun at his car and fired multiple times.
The victim said he hit the car in an attempt to escape, but the bullets didn’t stop. His car was struck four times, including in the front driver’s side door.
Lopez said the bullet that hit his door flew past his waist.
Fortunately, the victim was not harmed.
Police said they found the suspect in the Denny’s parking lot and took him into custody.
Investigators said 52-year-old Michael Scott was armed with a Glock 17 and was wearing a bulletproof vest with a security badge. He was also wearing a gun belt that had a holster and two fully loaded 9 mm magazines.
Detectives are still working to determine a motive.
Scott appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely, Wednesday afternoon.
“There’s probable cause here for attempted second-degree murder,” a prosecutor said.
The arrest report states Scott told police he was being “stalked and followed by an unknown group.”
The report also states Scott said the group that was following him “hacked his phone and has been threatening him through his car’s radio.”
In reference to why he fired the shots at Lopez, the suspect told detectives “he saw the driver pointing what appeared to be a long rifle at him.”
Shoppers near where the shots were fired were shocked by the gunfire.
“Anything can happen, but in a neighborhood like this, it’s just really rare, which is more frightening,” said shopper Johny Garcia.
“It’s horrible. I’m not from here, but that sounds really scary,” said shopper Maria Vargas.
Scott has been placed on house arrest. His bond is $5,000 with an alternate bond of $10,000.
“The alternate bond is, I think, incredibly low for the charges of discharging a firearm,” said Cardonne Ely, “’cause if you get re-arrested, you’re going to be sitting at the Dade County Jail for a while.”
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