A string of violent incidents in South Miami has culminated in multiple charges against a man accused of attempted abduction and assault. According to South Miami Police, Brian Gamboa attempted to kidnap a teen girl and assaulted another woman all within a 45-minute span. This information was revealed following the release of new surveillance video from an incident outside Baptist Health South Miami Hospital.
As reported by WSVN, the video captures Gamboa aggressively assaulting a 38-year-old woman on the property of the hospital. The footage illustrates an intense struggle of roughly 90 seconds between the woman and Gamboa before she manages to escape. Although security guards witnessed the incident, they failed to immediately comprehend the severity of the situation, resulting only in Gamboa being escorted off the premises.
Minutes later, Gamboa was involved in a hit-and-run at Sunset Tavern, as confirmed by South Miami Police investigators. He then attempted to abduct 16-year-old Valerie, whose last name has been withheld for privacy reasons, while she was walking down Southwest 86th Street. Valerie told WSVN how she defended herself, stating, "I punched him in the face. I kicked him in the lower body, a lot. He just screamed, ‘Shush,’ and he went for my arm. I pushed him off with this leg, so I can’t bend this knee right now, and then I started hitting him with my phone, which is broken." Her vigorous response caused Gamboa to flee the scene.
Following these events, a "be on the lookout" alert was issued, and Gamboa was apprehended a short distance away by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, according to WSVN. Initially, Gamboa posted bond and was set to be released with an ankle monitor. However, after the first victim came forward, having seen Valerie’s story on the news, an additional charge of attempted kidnapping was filed against him. The woman positively identified Gamboa as her attacker, which led to a judge ordering that Gamboa be held without bond.
Gamboa now faces serious charges, including attempted kidnapping and battery of a child. His string of alleged crimes has sparked concern among locals, with one of the victims expressing to CBS News Miami that, "I don't think this man should be anywhere on the street ever again."
