MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A Marine veteran was fatally shot Sunday night during an armed carjacking in Miami Gardens.
The shooting was reported at 12:10 a.m. in the area of Northwest 198th Street and 44th Court.
Miami Gardens police spokeswoman Petula Burks said one man was found on the ground at a nearby intersection suffering from a gunshot wound and another man, Guillermo Comme, 27, was found in the rear passenger seat of a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound.
Both men were taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Aventura Hospital in critical condition. Comme was later pronounced dead.
"He was an honorable Marine and was honored with many awards," Comme's wife, Laura, said. "He did two tours, one in Afghanistan, one in Iraq, and he came back and we somehow managed to tragically lose him here when he was with his family and friends."
Laura Comme said she was with her husband and their 9-year-old daughter visiting relatives in Miami Gardens for a loved ones' birthday.
Burks said Guillermo Comme was leaving the gathering with several other relatives when they were approached by a man who was armed with two guns.
Burks said the man tried to rob the group and take their vehicle.
Three of the people inside the car jumped out and the suspect got into the driver's seat and began struggling with Comme, Burks said.
The robber shot Comme, but was quickly confronted by one of Comme's relatives, who returned fire, striking the suspect, Burks said.
"It literally just happened so fast," Comme's brother, Kevin, said. "For something like to that to happen -- he was honestly the best of us."
Burks said the robber tried to run away, but collapsed at the intersection of Northwest 199th Street and 44th Avenue.
The robber has not yet been identified.
"I need the family of the man who did this to my husband to know that he took a really good man away from us way too soon. I'll never forgive you for that," Laura Comme said.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help Comme's wife and daughter in their time of need.
Anyone with additional information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Chris Pacheco at 305-474-1583 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.