An early morning stop at a Miami Gardens Marathon gas station turned into a nightmare for an elderly driver, who was violently beaten and carjacked before being airlifted to the hospital in critical condition, authorities say. Deputies arrived to find the man in a blood-soaked shirt with trauma to his head and neck, and he was flown to Aventura Hospital as a trauma alert. Surveillance video later showed two men confronting him as he tried to leave in his pickup truck.
Details From the Scene
Investigators identified the suspects as 33-year-old Ktwon Bailey and 27-year-old Christian Sarmiento. Both are facing a long list of felony charges, including attempted murder, false imprisonment, and aggravated battery on an older adult, according to Local 10. Officers were called just after 8:45 a.m. to the Marathon station, where they found the victim with a laceration above his right eyebrow and severe swelling to his right eye. An ICU nurse later told detectives the man had bleeding on the brain, the outlet reported.
How Deputies Tracked the Stolen Truck
Authorities say the victim had parked his 1987 GMC pickup and gone inside the store when two men approached him and demanded money. When he said he did not have any, one suspect allegedly punched him several times while the other went through his pockets, according to NBC 6 South Florida. Later that evening, deputies spotted the stolen truck near Northwest Seventh Avenue and 109th Street with three men inside. One of the suspects made a spontaneous statement that acknowledged his role in the attack, investigators said.
Charges and Booking
Miami-Dade corrections records show Bailey and Sarmiento were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on charges that include carjacking, attempted felony murder causing injury, robbery, and aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, according to Local 10. Police say surveillance video captured the assault, and the victim later identified both men as his attackers.
Legal Implications
The stakes are high for the defendants. Under Florida law, aggravated battery on a person 65 or older is elevated to a first-degree felony and carries mandatory minimum prison time and fines, as outlined in the Florida Statutes. As with any criminal case, the two men are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
What Investigators Say Comes Next
Detectives say they are continuing to comb through surveillance footage and are asking anyone with additional information to contact Miami Gardens police or the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. The stolen 1987 GMC pickup was recovered when officers stopped the vehicle and detained three men inside. The investigation remains active, authorities told NBC 6 South Florida.
