Man accused of shooting woman in face behind bars

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A man accused of shooting a woman in the face outside a South Florida restaurant remains in jail.

Officers arrested 20-year-old Kamiah Lanier at about 2 a.m. Friday in Florida City, nearly eight hours after the shooting. He now faces numerous charges, including armed robbery, attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to police, after the shooting there was an off-duty Miami-Dade Police officer who said he saw Lanier running from the scene. Police were able to get a description of the vehicle in which he was seen leaving the scene. "We were able to get bits of information and with the cooperation of Miami-Dade County Police, we were able to pin point where this man was," said Miami Police Kenia Reyes.

Police eventually obtained a photo of the suspect. They went to Jackson Memorial Hospital to see if the victim, Evelyn Matamoro, would identity the man. The mother of two was able to identify Lanier as the shooter. "From the very beginning it was senseless because this woman actually gave him her purse," said Reyes. "So she complied with everything from the very beginning, and he just decided to deliberately shoot this woman after he had her purse in hand.

At about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Lanier approached Matamoro at gunpoint near Cafe Ruyi along Northwest Seventh Avenue and Northwest 53rd Street, before demanding her purse. Matamoro gave up her purse but Lanier shot her in the face and fled the scene.

Matamoro's mother said her daughter was bleeding from the mouth.

Police have connected Lanier to another robbery, which occurred in the City of Miami. They said a woman was robbed but was not hurt.

According to doctors, Matamoro is expected to make a recovery. She is listed in stable condition at this time.

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