Thieves shoot man for gold chain; victim speaks out

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police are searching for a pair of ruthless robbers who shot a South Florida man for his gold chain.

Nick Dragone was trimming branches in his front yard using tree cutters, when two young men approached him Tuesday morning. "I had the branch cutter in my hand and they didn't see it, and when they got up close, I turned around and faced him and he said, 'I want it,' and he was going for my necklace. I said your not getting it. I put the cutter up and said, I'll cut your hand off first," said Dragone.

Dragone, 66, said the men backed off at first, but then, "He pulled the gun out and boom, boom, boom, boom."

Police said Dragone was hit by three bullets but the Vietnam Vet was conscious and alert and called 911 himself. Dragone said he kept the men at bay with those cutters. "I just kept spinning around so he couldn't get a solid target," he said.

Dragone told his wife, Susan Dragone, who was at work during the attack, "I was not shot in Vietnam, and yet I'm shot three times now," said Susan.

While Dragone continues to recover from the shooting, he wanted to give the subjects some advice. "Your in your own yard and these kids, they think nothing of taking your life for a piece of gold. Just respect your neighbors. I mean you might be down and out because you don't have a job. It's not worth going to prison for the rest of your life for a piece of gold," said Dragone.

Dragone said he refused to give up the chain because his wife had given it to him years ago. "My wife gave me that for my Birthday eight years ago, and I'm not going to let someone take it away," he said.

If you have any information on the thieves, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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