‘Just got robbed at gunpoint.’ Details emerge in Hollywood carjacking that led to chase, teen suspect’s death

A man sitting in his car waiting to enter a carwash in Hollywood was suddenly flanked on both sides by men with guns drawn. Within seconds, the driver’s luxury car was gone. So were his keys and wallet.

Next there was a chase through Broward County into Miami-Dade. Then a crash. The wrecked car, a 2018 black Alfa Romeo Giulia, was surrounded by police. But only one of the suspects was inside the car, not two. And soon, that sole occupant, a 16-year-old boy, was dead.

Witnesses told WPLG-Ch. 10 that after the crash police pulled the teen suspect from the car and repeatedly kicked him in the head and as well as throughout his body. Video shows several officers gathered around that night but the footage, taken from a distance, is too grainy to either support or refute the allegations.

Police in Hollywood say they cannot talk about that aspect of the case because the state’s law enforcement agency, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is investigating. But Hollywood Police are saying the department is searching for the missing male accomplice and could use the public’s help.

Police just released the surveillance video from within the 7-Eleven/Mobile gas station at 3451 Sheridan St. Police say that at 9 p.m. on Nov. 14, the two suspects pulled up to the gas station in a 2018 silver Toyota Yaris, a car police would later learn was stolen. The wanted man then went into the convenience store where his image was captured on surveillance video.

The victim told police he was in line for the car wash when the two men appeared on either side of his car and ordered him out. When he didn’t get out quickly enough, the 16-year-old yelled “Think we are playing? We’re not f--- around,” according to a report provided by police Wednesday.

The victim said he obeyed, telling police the teen reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. The two suspects then drove off, heading west down Sheridan Street in his Alfa Romeo Giulia.

“I just got robbed at gunpoint,” the victim told an emergency dispatcher after calling 9-1-1.

The victim explained about his wallet and keys and said for a bit he was “scared out of his life.”

Shortly afterward, the victim tells the dispatcher that he see the police pulling into the gas station.

A police report says an officer monitoring a perimeter spotted a car matching the description of the victim’s vehicle along U.S. 441. Soon there was a chase, and then a dead teenager.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard after a critical incident. The dead teenager’s name has not been released.

Anyone who has information regarding this investigation or knows the identify of the individual spotted on surveillance video is asked contact the Hollywood Police Department at 954-764-4357. Tips can be emailed or sent by text hollywoodpdtips@hollywoodfl.org.