Man in custody, 3 at large after armed robbery of North Miami medical clinic

Victims held at gunpoint during robbery

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – Employees at a medical clinic in North Miami were robbed at gunpoint Friday, city police said.

As of Thursday afternoon, one man had been arrested in the case and three others -- two men and one woman -- remained at large.

The robbery took place about 1:30 p.m. at the clinic in the 500 block of Northeast 125th Street.

That's when police believe a robber, who is still at large, pointed a gun at three female employees.

The robber then pressed a gun against a victim’s head and demanded money, police said. That victim gave the robber $200 in cash, which had been inside the front desk drawer.

The robber then told the employee, "I know there’s more money, if you don’t give me the money I’ll shoot you and everyone here," according to police.

The victim opened a safe box and handed over $4,000 in cash.

Zion Smith, who has been arrested, was standing outside the front window during the incident and pointed his gun at another victim and told the victim to remove all jewelry, police said.

The victim removed a Michael Kors watch and threw it on an office chair before hiding, police said. The victim’s phone was also taken.

During the robbery, an employee left his office after hearing the sound of screaming from the store. One of the robbers pointed a gun at the victim, who was robbed of his wallet when he fell onto the ground while trying to run away, police said. 

"I just ran out and I screamed, 'Gun! Gun! We're getting robbed. Robbery," employee Stephen Pimentel said.

Pimentel said he and his patients ran for their lives.

"I saw the guy pointing a gun at me, and he shot," Pimentel said.

That employee said he noticed Lodonna Florence in the parking lot inside a vehicle, police said. The employee recognized her from being in the store earlier in the day.

The employee then saw the robbers get inside a black Dodge Charger, police said.

While the car was leaving, someone the vehicle fired several shots at the employee, who was not hit, police said.

Another witness took down the tag number for the Charger.

After running the tag number, police learned that Smith’s cousin had rented the vehicle from a dealership near Miami International Airport and that the vehicle had been returned.

Police found Smith on Wednesday in a Miami Gardens complex and took him into custody.

Anyone with information about the others involved in the incident are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.