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13-Year-Old Carjacking Suspect Shot

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NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Police said a 13-year-old youngster who "should have been in bed getting ready for school" was shot by an intended victim early Tuesday when he tried to steal a car.

"It is very alarming," said veteran North Miami Beach Police Detective Cora Mann. "First of all, what is a 13-year-old doing out after midnight when he should be in bed getting ready for school?"

Mann told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that it was 12:15 a.m. when police responded to a shooting on N.E. 16th Ave. at 158th St.

She said the young suspect had a bullet wound in the upper right part of his abdomen. An officer on the scene recognized the youngster from "previous encounters," according to a police report. He was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital where his condition has stabilized.

A police report said the incident started when the driver of the car, 28-year-old Yazmina Mora, was waiting for a light to change. She said one of the youngsters approached her on the right side of her car with his hands to his chest.

Mora reportedly thought he was going to beg for money. The report says that's when her passenger and boyfriend, 25-year-old Paul J. Clarke, noticed that the suspect had a black revolver. He told her not to move in order to not be shot. The report says Clarke pulled out his own gun from his pocket and fired two shots.

The young suspect collapsed to the ground. Mora drove a short distance away and 911 was called. Police say Clarke's firearm was impounded.

Mann said, "The driver alerted the passenger saying hey, hey, hey, he has a firearm and the passenger removed his own weapon and shot two times in fear for their lives. I am not going to go into justification but they were in fear for their life and he wanted to protect himself and his girlfriend."

Mann said all three people who were with the suspect took off eastbound. She said she believes they are between 13 and 18 years old.

"We don't know who they are," she said. "That's why we are asking for the public's help and that you call Crime Stoppers."

A neighbor, Eduardo Fernandez, said "I was just watching TV at the time and I went out and saw all the people on the street. This used to be a very quiet neighborhood but now, not anymore. It is not a good thing but life continues. You cannot do anything about it."

Fernandez said he had been living in the neighborhood for the past 14 years.

Another resident, 63-year-old Rochenele Francois, says there have been robberies before in the neighborhood near N.E. 16th Ave. and 158th St.

He said two months ago he was robbed within a hundred feet of the attempted carjacking.

"It was two months ago," he said. "Two men, they stole my gold chain. They ripped it from my neck. This was not a good thing. They were about 18, 20 years old."

Francois said he had not heard about the attempted carjacking.

Mann said the 13-year-old suspect would be charged with attempted carjacking with a firearm.

Anyone with information about this case or the three people who took off should call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).

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