NORTHEAST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — A tourist visiting a South Florida discount store is speaking out after he was brutally beaten during a shopping trip.
Igor Dimitiryenko was shopping at a Wal-Mart when he said he suddenly became a robbery victim. “It was just like, ‘Boom,'” he said. “They stole about $200. That’s my money, and my phone is very expensive.”
He was on vacation from Massachusetts and needed to pick something up from the store along Northeast 164th Street and 14th Avenue, just after midnight, early Thursday morning. Dimitiryenko said the store has late hours, and he said he didn’t want to deal with the crowd.
When it began to rain, he said he waited under an covered area. That’s when he said a man asked him to use his cellphone and then attacked. “I come to this place, and I see what’s happening to him,” said Helen, the victim’s friend, “I said, ‘Listen, you need to go to the police and ambulance,’ because he needed to check his head.'”
The victim’s friend then took him to the North Miami Beach Police Department. However, Dimitiryenko was still dazed about the details after the attack. “I’m trying to get my phone back, but I felt like I’m all in a dream,” he said. “Dizziness. They hit me a couple more times.”
That’s when Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived to the department, just before noon on Thursday, to check on the victim. Miami-Dade Police arrived shortly after to take the report since the incident occurred in their jurisdiction.
Dimitiryenko told 7News that he can’t recall what he was hit with. “Their fists, but the first time, I don’t know because it was from the side,” he said. “I just stay and ‘Boof.'”
After officials took down their report, Dimitiryenko was taken on a stretcher to the hospital woozy and with his eye swollen shut. He said he hopes whoever attacked and robbed him gets caught.
Miami-Dade PD is now investigating this case.
If you know who was behind this 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.
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