Maintenance worker shot over chain

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A maintenance worker is recovering after a man robbed him of his chain and shot him.

Miami-Dade Police said the armed man approached the worker while he mowed the lawn at the It's A Small World Learning Center IV, which is owned by his cousin. "This victim was cutting the grass at this learning center when he was approached by an unknown black male subject that shot him several times and took his gold chain and fled this area in an unknown direction," said Miami-Dade Police Detective Treanese Louissaint.

Louissaint said officials set up a perimeter in search of the subject who was last seen fleeing on foot, but they never found him. "The description that we have is a black male, 6 foot 2. He was wearing a light blue baseball cap, white T-shirt and blue jean shorts," she said.

After taking a total of five bullets, the 45-year-old worker and father of three remains in critical but stable condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital after undergoing surgery. He was able to talk to detectives and give them the description of his assailant.

Police are calling the criminal brazen and dangerous, as he reportedly shot the victim even after he willingly gave up his chain. "The victim in this case did comply," said Louissaint. "He went ahead and gave his property over to the subject, but the subject still went ahead and shot him."

Officials said neither employees nor children from the learning center located at Northwest 65th Street and 32nd Avenue where injured during the ordeal. The many parents appeared on the scene to get their children out early. "I left work so I could get to my children, take them out of here," said one woman. "The children were outside playing on the playground, and he robbed the guy."

This is just one in several recent cases of chain robberies by armed robbers. Some victims have not been as lucky as this maintenance worker, and police are looking into whether this recent robbery is connected to earlier crimes with the same M.O.

In June, a Miami Lakes man was shot to death in front of his home, allegedly over his gold chain. Just last week a tourist from Las Vegas was hospitalized after having his chain stolen in Northwest Miami-Dade. Police did arrest a suspect in that case.

If you have any information on this latest armed robbery, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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