MIAMI – A woman in her 70's was taken to the hospital Friday after police say two men shot her in the hand and stole her gold chain.
The incident happened Friday at 1901 Northwest 127th Street in northwest Miami-Dade, in front of Westview Middle School.
Miami-Dade police said the two men who were riding in a red mini-van caused a crash with the woman driving a car.
The men, at least one of them armed, got out of the mini-van, went up to the woman, shot her in the hand and stole her gold chain, said police.
Authorities said the two men left in their mini-van.
"The victim, I understand, has been taken to Jackson Hospital," said Ethel Sanders, the woman's cousin. "It doesn't appear her hand injury is life-threatening."
The woman was transported to Ryder Trauma Center in stable condition. Her family told Local 10's Baron James that she went into surgery Friday evening after the bullet passed through her hand and into her stomach, but this hasn't been confirmed by police.
"I was in the house and I heard 'pop,'" a female witness said.
Violent crime was not on the mind though for the witness when she heard a pop and noticed a car in the middle of the street Friday afternoon around 5 p.m.
"I assumed it was the backfire of the car," she said.
The witness and Miami-Dade police would soon learn that the woman behind the wheel of the dark-colored Dodge Charger had just become the latest victim of a violent gold jewelry robbery.
"And I was like, oh shoot," said the witness.
After the two men took off, officials said they left at least one bullet casing behind that later investigators marked off on the blood-stained roadway.
"I had seen neighbors rushing to her aid because she was bleeding," the witness said.
Before police arrived, the wounded woman had mustered the strength to do something else that may have saved her life. Local 10's Baron James reports the woman managed to call for help.
"She was on her phone like she was calling for help," said the witness.
"She only said, 'I just got shot. Get Doris to come get my car.' That's all she said," Sanders said.
Meanwhile, police will continue their search for the two men who were in the red mini-van. No detailed descriptions of the men are known at this time.
Police said if you have any information about this incident, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.