Jewelry store owner shot at flea market

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. (WSVN) -- The owner of a jewelry store is recovering in the hospital after someone shot him during an armed robbery on Christmas Eve.

According to North Miami Police, the shooting happened Monday night inside the Flea Market near Northwest 139th Street and Seventh Avenue. Investigators said McNeil Wilson was shot in the back during a robbery at Bright Star Jewelry, the store he has run for over 20 years.

Angela Wilson, the victim's wife of 26 years, is just happy he survived the shooting. "I would call this a big miracle," she said, "a big miracle. God has given me my best Christmas gift I could ever get."

Wilson, a father of 10 and 16 grandchildren, owns the Bright Star Jewelry store. Candace Wilson, one of his daughters said, "My dad has not put gold out for this whole season, till today, the last day, and that's when they came in. Like they were watching him the whole time."

She noted, however, the crooks left empty-handed. "They left with nothing," she said.

Wilson said her father has been in business at that location for 20 years and was only recently robbed. "He just got robbed in November," she said.

First responders took the victim to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where his condition stabilized overnight but remains serious, Wednesday afternoon. The victim's wife is just happy her prayers were answered. "'Keep him alive'," she recalls praying over and over. "What would I do without him? Our home would break up because there would be no breadwinner," Angela said.

The daughter noted her father never attracted trouble. "Everybody was shocked to know that he got shot," said Candace Wilson. "McNeil is not the type of person that's in trouble or a bother, so it was really a shock to the whole family."

Police are now looking for at least two subjects who were seen getting into a gray Chevy and fled northbound on Seventh Avenue.

Police plan to look at surveillance video footage to try and identify those responsible for putting this family man in the hospital.

If you have any information on this armed robbery and shooting, 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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