MIAMI – A fatally wounded man crashed his car into the front yard of a home in the Allapattah section of Miami late Saturday, police said.
Police identified the victim as Francisco Martinez Jr.
Kiara Delva, a spokeswoman for the Miami Police Department, said officers were called to a report of a crash about 11 p.m. at the home in the 3000 block of Northwest 22nd Avenue.
Officers at the scene found Martinez, 24, unresponsive inside the car suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest, Delva said.
Martinez was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Delva said moments before the wreck, Martinez tried to rob three victims at Northwest 22nd Avenue and Northwest 28th Street. He was shot and lost control of his car, Delva said.
A witness who only identified himself as Willy said he was standing just feet away when the shots were fired.
"Last night when I went to go get a beer, they was, like, arguing," Willy said.
Willy said he heard gunshots a short time later.
A man who lives in the house said he is grateful no one else was hurt.
"Like a bad movie, that's all, surprise," the resident, who didn't want to give his name, said. "Thank my lucky stars and light a candle."
Witnesses said the crash sounded like fireworks.
Martinez's family came to the scene of the crash Sunday morning to thank the neighbor who tried to save the man's life.
Osman Martinez said he doesn't know the circumstances of what happened and that his brother was by no means an angel, but he didn't deserve to get shot.
"I don't know what situation he was in, how this happened, how it went about, you know," Osman Martinez said. "I wish I could be there with him."
