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Viewing Held For Victims Of Gas Station Shooting

MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) – A viewing was held Wednesday evening for the young couple killed in a gas station robbery in Miami Gardens.

The viewing for Julian Soler, 23, and Kennia Duran, 24, took place at Bernardo Garcia Funeral Home at 865 West 49th Street in Hialeah.

Gas Station Shooting Victims Julian Soler Kennia Duran
(Photo Credit: Jacqueline Serra) Kennia Duran (L) and Julian Soler were shot and killed at a Miami Gardens gas station.

Soler and Duran were gassing up Soler's 1997 Ford Mustang Cobra at a gas station on 16691 NW 57th Ave at around 12:38 a.m. on Monday, when they were ambushed, forced out of the car and shot.

The suspects were in an older model Nissan Pathfinder which pulled up on the other side of the pump, according to the station's surveillance video. As Soler got back into his car, he was confronted by a man from the Pathfinder pointing a gun at him.

Another man can be seen on the video pointing a gun at Duran. As the two got out of the car, the gunmen opened fire. The video then shows the armed men getting back into the Pathfinder and speeding away. The Pathfinder, which had been torched, was found later.

Soler died on the pavement next to his car. Duran was rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center where she died.

Robert Munoz said he watched the video but and can not understand how anyone could have taken lives so casually.

Munoz said, "when I saw that video I was crying for two hours -- the way that shot hit him right in the chest. It must have been a high powered gun that lifted up a 260 pound 6'4" kid off a ground. I would like to tell those guys that I hope they die."

"They didn't deserve to be killed that way," said Soler's mother Janine Diaz. "He'll never get to be a parent; he'll never get to be married; he'll never get to enjoy everything everyone gets to enjoy in life," said Diaz at a news conference held by the victims' mothers on Tuesday.

They want the public to help find the suspects.

"I'm just begging you as a parent, as a grandparent because I have to take care of my grandson right now. If you know anything just come forward," said Jacqueline Serra, mother of Kennia Duran.

Duran leaves behind a 6-year-old son.

Police said they are searching for three, possibly four, subjects.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.

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