Video Shows Store Robber Using Sub Machine Gun
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HIALEAH (CBSMiami)---New surveillance tape shows some frightening moments inside a Hialeah convenience store as, police say, a thief wearing a blue hoodie, pointing a sub machine gun, stormed in and demanded cash.
"This could have been tragic. It could have turned bad. It could have turned into a shootout," said Hialeah Police Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez.
"It's very traumatic. It's very traumatic. There are no words to explain it," said Mustafa Saleh, the owner of the Kwik Stop Store at 2581 East 8th Ave. that was robbed just before 1 .am.
Saleh told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "The simple thought of this makes me think of extremists. It's very scary."
"He came in and was covered up and then he pulled out a machine gun," said Saleh. "The clerk was able to keep his composure and keep calm. He opened the register and said take what you want. He seemed very nervous."
A police report said the robber demanded cash and was given $150. And then he asked the clerk to open the cash drawer and he was also given two $100 bills and some smaller bills.
Fortunately, no one was injured and thanks to a witness who alerted a passing police officer about the robbery, the suspect was arrested three hours after the crime.
"A customer standing outside sees the robbery and he flags down an officer on Lejeune Road and tells about the robbery," said Rodriguez. "After a search, our K-9 officers found this man hiding in a dumpster."
Saleh said, "A great Samaritan customer coincidentally saw the passing police car and was able to stop him and let him know we were robbed."
Rodriguez said 23-year-old Rico Antonio Davis of Southwest Miami-Dade was found hiding in blue metal trash dumpster at 866 East 26th St. after some intensive work by Hialeah police officers including the K-9 unit and the SWAT team.
"I really want to commend the officers in the SWAT team and K-9 officers," said Rodriguez. "Because of them, a high-powered rifle and a dangerous criminal are off the streets."
Rodriguez showed D'Oench the weapon that police had confiscated.
"This is what he used," said Rodriguez. "It is an MP5 sub machine gun that is fully automatic." It was also loaded.
"Just imagine how dangerous this weapon could have been," said Rodriguez. "There not only could have been a shoot out but this could have spilled over on to Lejeune Road."
"I feel vindicated," said Saleh. "I feel vindicated. Thank you because things work out in mysterious ways and we are able to see this guy get caught."
Saleh said he had never seen Davis before and said he did not think he had ever gone to his store before. Police say he confessed to the crime.
Now police are trying to determine where Davis got the sub machine gun and how he acquired it.
Police say they recovered sneakers, a blue hat and gloves and $357 which was all of the cash taken from the Kwik Stop store.
A police report lists Davis's job as a "laborer."
As he was taken to jail from the Hialeah Police Department, Davis declined to answer questions as he was placed in a police cruiser.
