CORAL GABLES, FLA. (WSVN) - Two accused robbers in their late teens are accused in the fatal shooting of a handyman in Coral Gables that, police said, took place in broad daylight after the victim had complied with their demands.
According to Coral Gables Police, 18-year-old Gary Ragin and 17-year-old Jermaine Walker were looking for people to rob in the area, Friday morning.
Just after 10 a.m, detectives said, the suspects saw the victim, 67-year-old Jorge Romero-Gil, and followed him into an alleyway near Ten Aragon Condominium along Aragon Avenue, just a block off Miracle Mile.
Police said the teens, who were wearing ski masks, walked up to Romero-Gil and demanded his belongings at gunpoint, but even after the victim handed the robbers what they wanted, Walker shot him at close range.
As Romero-Gil lay dying, police said, the duo continued to rummage through his things before they got back in their car and took off.
Livan Gonzalez, who works around the corner, said he walks through the same alleyway every day. He said he got work about an hour after the shooting.
“They didn’t let me come in through the back. We saw all the yellow tape; we saw everything. We were just curious about what was going on,” said Gonzalez. “My parents reached out to me, like, ‘Hey, you know, there’s a shooting in the area. Is everything OK? Are you fine?’ I think it’s pretty crazy, especially considering the location.”
“It’s scary. It’s one of the things you don’t want to see where you live, of course,” said area resident Sergio Patrick. “We chose to live here with our kids because it’s safe, we feel good.”
But on Friday, the typically safe area was swarming with police officers.
Speaking with reporters Friday afternoon, Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak said Ragin and Walker drove to Coconut Grove after they fled the scene.
“A description was given to our units that a vehicle had fled the scene at a high rate of speed with two individuals inside,” he said.
A witness who asked not to be identified said he saw the pair driving recklessly and run a red light.
“Well, he almost hit my car coming down the road,” said the witness.
With officers on their tail, the suspects crashed their car in Coconut Grove and fled on foot.
7News cameras captured the SWAT team and heavily armed officers as they searched the area of 27th and Bird avenues.
Police set up a perimeter as they searched for the suspects and for clues. Thanks in part to tips from area residents, officers were able to locate and apprehend Ragin and Walker.
“I would like to thank the residents of Miami for calling us right away when they saw people going through their yards,” said Hudak.
Once in custody, detectives said, both suspects confessed to their involvement.
Ragin appeared in court on Saturday. A judge ordered that he be held on no bond.
Since Walker is a juvenile, his bond information remains unknown.
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