Cameras Capture Struggle Before Broward Business Owner Shoots Would-Be Robber
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OAKLAND PARK (CBSMiami) – Dramatic new surveillance tape shows a striking struggle between a Broward business owner who authorities said shot a would-be robber five times before he too is shot.
"This is such a violent confrontation," said Dani Moschella, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff's Office. "It's a miracle that no one was killed in the confrontation."
Moschella told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "They are in a small space in an office. There is an exchange of gunfire. There's fighting going on. Luckily no one lost his life."
Moschella said the new tape is "frightening" and shows the two locked in a struggle while fighting and while shots were fired.
Moschella said it all started just before 1 p.m. on Monday when two gunmen pulled up to CAD Auto Parts at 2935 N.W. 17th Terrace in a newer model, dark grey BMW.
"So we see them entering," said Moschella. "We see them passing a witness. They kind of meander around and then eventually they confront the owner who's sitting there on his phone at lunch time."
That owner, and victim, is Andrew Hepburn. Moschella said the gunman who attacked him was 36-year-old Conrad Bloomfield, who had a semi-automatic handgun.
Bloomfield reportedly pointed his weapon at Hepburn.
"Witnesses say that he demanded money from him and demanded he get down on the floor," said Moschella.
"He pistol whips him a few times. As he's putting the owner's hands behind his back he gets distracted because his accomplice brought in the other witness at gunpoint so he's talking to him and gets distracted. That gives the owner, the victim, the opportunity to grab that gun which he does. He wraps his arms around the assailant's legs. They start to fight and he gains control of the control of the gun. And we see him shooting him several times," said Moschella.
A police report says Bloomfield is shot five times in the chest area.
"And then he (Hepburn) starts beating him in self-defense," said Moschella.
Moschella added, "At that time the accomplice goes by the door and starts to shoot at the victim. You can see a bullet come through the wall. That's what hits the victim. He is hit once. The fight continues and the second gunman flees. The victim keeps fighting the first gunman and drags him outside where BSO deputies find them both. They are transported to Broward Health Medical Center."
That's where authorities say Hepburn is in good condition after being shot once in the right side of his chest and Bloomfield is in critical condition.
"They attacked the wrong man that day because he really did fight back," said Moschella. "He gave it everything he had. He could have been killed. You can watch that video time and time again and you can see that he could have been killed."
A man named Shane, who didn't want to provide his last name, works a few doors down at A & S Tires. He says when faced with a life or death situation like Hepburn was, your instincts take over.
"You just have to do what you have to do, that's what it is," he said.
David Bentley owns Lashway Motorsports down the street from the robbery took place. He believes this confrontation was an isolated incident but said he's not taking any chances with security.
"We no longer have our doors open," said Bentley. "We've got our doors locked. Or our gates are closed. We've taken other precautions for our own security."
Bloomfield is facing a number of charges including attempted murder.
BSO is looking for both the second gunman and the witness who he struggled with inside CAD Auto Parts. Both took off after the shooting. Detectives are also looking for the driver of the getaway car – a dark grey, newer model BMW.
Anyone with information is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
The Broward Sheriff's Office released the surveillance video on Tuesday, the same day they arrested Conrad Bloomfield, 36, in connection to a double shooting outside an Oakland Park warehouse. He is being charged with attempted murder and attempted armed robbery.
