MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are searching for a man, who they said, shot two people on Miami Beach, Wednesday morning.
Miami Beach Police responded to the scene, near 72nd Street and Collins Avenue, where both victims, Pedro Villarcho and Valeria Mato, were shot at around 5:45 a.m.
“It sounded like death,” said witness Joshua Poli. “I heard two gunshots — two quick ones. I thought, ‘Either someone’s getting robbed or someone’s getting killed.'”
The victims were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. “The male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen,” said Miami Beach Police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez. “The female sustained a gunshot wound to her hand.”
According to officials, the woman who was shot ran to a nearby Denny’s to call for help.
“Somebody got shot outside bleeding, shot in the stomach and the arm, and somebody came here asking for help,” said a Denny’s employee.
Police said a dark colored BMW, with an unknown male inside was seen fleeing the scene heading northbound after opening fire. “Right now, we’re looking for a subject who fled the scene in a dark color BMW,” said Rodriguez. “He is, according to a witness, a Hispanic male.”
7Skyforce flew over the scene as police scoured the area, looking for bullet casings.
Traffic was shutdown for several hours, Wednesday morning, on Collins Avenue northbound, between 71st and 72nd Street.
“I wouldn’t expect that around here,” said an unnamed resident. “I’m surprised.”
Police and detectives have not found any motive for the shooting but believe that the subjects may have known each other.
“There might have been a conversation just before the shooting,” said Rodriguez.
If you have any information on this double shooting, 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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