Accused Halloween Night Carjacker, Shooter Expected To Face Trial As Adult
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – In Miami-Dade Juvenile Court, Monday, prosecutors indicated they will charge Luis Basalo as an adult in a Halloween night shooting and carjacking.
Basalo was 17, a juvenile on Halloween, but in the following week turned 18, an adult.
He and four known, but not yet charged, accomplices are accused of stealing a teenage couple's car in Coral Gables Saturday night and shooting both of them as they ran for their lives.
While Basalo's attorney waived his appearance in juvenile court Monday, his mother, who did not give her name, was present.
She declined to speak with reporters, instead offering an obscene hand gesture to them – twice.
Basalo is charged with attempted murder and armed carjacking.
Police said they have identified the other four young men with him the night of the carjacking and shooting, but so far he is the only one arrested in that case.
CBS4 News has learned, however, that a 17 year old arrested at Jackson senior high school last week, carrying a gun, is suspected to have used the car from the Halloween night carjacking in an aggravated assault committed in Miami the next day.
The male victim of the carjacking and shooting commented from his hospital bed Monday on Basalo's arrest.
"Inside, I was jumping up and down when I found out," said the teen whose face and identity are being protected due to the alleged gang-related nature of the crime.