Police Hunt For 2 Suspects In Bal Harbour Shooting
BAL HARBOUR - (CBS4) – The sister of a man who was shot at a Bal Harbour restaurant is speaking out. Meanwhile, police said they are looking for two suspects involved in the shooting that left two people injured, including an innocent bystander.
Bal Harbour police said the shooting took place around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the entrance of Carpaccio Restaurant, part of the exclusive Bal Harbour Shops at 9700 Collins Avenue.
According to Bal Harbour police spokesman Capt. Greg Roye, the shooting took place after a fight between two men. Capt. Royce told CBS4 News that investigators are looking into the possibility that the shooting stemmed from a dispute that started in New York City. The suspect and the male victim live in New York part of the year, according to Royce.
"We do believe that these do have some knowledge of each other and there may have been a conflict in the past that came to a head yesterday," Royce said.
Witnesses said they saw the victim arguing with the gunman earlier in the evening.
The man's sister said her brother, who was in surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, said he was visiting south Florida. She said he was only in South Florida for a few days before he was shot.
Police said they do have some leads but are investigating.
"At this point, it's something we're still trying to put together and we are still very early in the investigation," Roye said.
Witness Adam Rosenfeld was inside the restaurant when he heard the shot.
"All of a sudden a gunshot goes off and everybody hits the deck," he said. "We go under the table. Everybody goes under the table. I just walked over to a few tables to see what was going on and there was one of the patrons in the restaurant…sitting there holding his leg. He was shot in the leg and bleeding all over the place."
Police said the gunman was just inside the Bal Harbour shops property when he fired. He fled with an accomplice after getting into a black car that drove away southbound on Collins Avenue.
Investigators are checking surveillance cameras all over Bal Harbour and also the toll plaza as well in their search for clues and information about the suspect.
Many are surprised by the shooting that left an area swarming with police.
""I've been the chief here for almost nine years and we've have seen only two shootings in that time," chief Tom Hunker of the Bal Harbour Police Department said.
Police said there have only been three shooting in the area in the past 20 years.
Meanwhile, the male victim, who was shot in the knee, is expected to be OK. A woman, who was struck in the foot apparently by the same bullet, was also hospitalized at Ryder Trauma Center.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-1900.
