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Armored Truck Guard Who Died At Dadeland Mall Shooting Identified

Second Person Treated At Scene

POSTED: Monday, December 1, 2008
UPDATED: 8:58 am EST December 2, 2008

An armored truck guard was killed Monday in a shooting at Dadeland Mall in Kendall, police said.

Police said robbers ambushed the driver of a Dunbar armored truck, and shots were fired. The shooting happened at an Express store inside the mall, police said.

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The guard was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital. He later died.

A Dunbar official confirmed Tuesday that 51-year-old Carlos Alvarado died in Monday morning's attack.

A second person was treated at the scene, Local 10's Todd Tongen reported.

Police continue to search for the shooters, who were seen leaving with bags of cash. Witnesses said two men escaped in a white, midsize sedan.

"At this time, the only information we have was there was possibly two subjects wearing dark clothing," Fina-Milian said.

Aerial news footage of the scene showed a Dunbar armored car parked in front of the mall surrounded by police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials.

Jorge Divo was in the food court when he saw a crowd of shoppers running. They were screaming "that someone had been shot," he said.

"I would say there was eight to 10 shots, rapid fire, and a lot of screaming and yelling," said shopper Jenny Block.

Inside the mall, shoppers did not know what had happened, but they knew they could be in danger.

"One of the guys said it sounded like a machine gun went off," said Wayne Morganstern, who works nearby. "Once he heard that, he ran and closed the doors, and everybody ducked until it was safe."

Miami-Dade police cordoned off the area and searched the perimeter, but the mall never shut down. Police continue to search for the shooters.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, a representative of the Simon Property Group, the company that runs the mall, said Dadeland Mall is open for business except for an area near The Limited Express Super Store.

"We are shocked and saddened by this tragic crime," Lydia Gilmore of Simon Property Group said in the statement. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the victim, his family and friends."

Dunbar is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the killer. Anyone with information is asked to call the Miami-Dade Homicide Division at 305-471-2400.
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