Miami Man Found Guilty In Sledge Hammer Attack, Robbery

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The man accused of attacking a mini-mart owner with a sledge hammer for two cartons of cigarettes has been found guilty of attempted premeditated murder.

Besides being charged with count three attempted premeditated murder, Rodobaldo Sanchez was also found guilty of count one of burglary and assault and count two of robbery.

The violent robbery happened on Sunday December 18th, 2011, at Alex's Mini Market at 501 N.W. 12th Avenue. The attack was caught on two security cameras.

On the video, police said Sanchez can be seen entering the store and pretending that he wants to buy two gallons of milk. At the counter, he suddenly pulls out a hand lotion type bottle and sprays a chemical into the eyes of store owner, 44-year-old Yue Kui Cen.

As Cen rubs his eyes in disbelief, the suspect goes around the counter and strikes him six times on the head with a small sledge hammer.

Sanchez then seen fled with only two cartons of Marlboro cigarettes.

Police were stunned by the severity of the attack.

Cen survived the attack, but remains paralyzed for the rest of his life.

The judge is expected to set a sentencing date later in February.