Three people were rushed to local hospitals Thursday night after a fast-moving string of carjackings and robberies in southwest Miami-Dade County. One victim was found beaten and stabbed and taken in critical condition, while two others were treated and transported. Deputies say they have a person in custody as detectives work to figure out whether all the incidents are connected.
Carjackings Roll In After 8:45 p.m., Investigators Say
According to investigators, the ordeal kicked off just before 8:45 p.m., when deputies responded to a reported armed carjacking near Southwest 67th Avenue and Bird Road. There, they found a man who had been beaten and stabbed and whose vehicle had been taken. Paramedics transported him to a hospital in critical condition.
Later that night, deputies were called to more robberies and carjackings in the West Kendall area, including near Southwest 137th Avenue and Miller Drive and at a gas station on Southwest 157th Avenue and Kendall Drive. Those victims were also taken to the hospital.
Deputies later spotted one of the stolen vehicles near Southwest 152nd Avenue and Sunset Drive. They chased a person seen running from the car and took that individual into custody. Robbery detectives took over the investigation and were working Friday morning to determine whether the crimes are linked, according to NBC6 South Florida.
Officials Point to Earlier Violent Stops as a Warning Sign
Miami-Dade authorities have seen routine calls turn volatile before. Earlier this year, the Sheriff's Office released body-worn camera footage from a deputy-involved shooting tied to an armed carjacking, underscoring how quickly these encounters can escalate.
How to Report Tips
Anyone with information about Thursday's incidents is urged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip through the program's website. For emergencies or to report a crime in progress, call 911.
The Crime Stoppers site outlines how to submit information and notes that tips may be eligible for rewards, according to Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade & The Florida Keys.
