Man shot during Wynwood robbery speaks from hospital bed

Frank Hammar, 27, suffered 2 bullet wounds to stomach

MIAMI – A man who was shot twice during a robbery this week in Miami's Wynwood area spoke to Local 10 News Friday from his hospital bed.

"I'm extremely lucky. I'm so lucky and thankful for all the doctors here," Frank Hammar said.

Hammar said he was having dinner with his parents at the Wynwood Diner shortly before he was robbed and shot. He said his parents are in town from Sweden for his graduation from Miami Ad School.  

"I kind of got a hunch something was wrong," he said.

The 27-year-old said he was walking back to his school, when he was approached by two men. 

"This one guy comes up to me with a gun drawn. He's telling me (to) take out my stuff (and) put everything on the floor," Hammar said.

Surveillance video showed Hammar putting down his cellphone, but he refused to give up his wallet.

"I told them that, 'You guys are really screwing me over if you take this,'" Hammar said. "The guy tells me he's got one bullet in the chamber. (He) pulls out the magazine, puts it back in."

The video showed Hammar backing away, but the men continued to follow him.

"The other guy says something like 'Blast him' or 'Pop him,' and the guy with the gun fires two bullets," Hammar said.

Hammar said he remembers falling over, and the men running away.

"At that point, I realized it was a lot of blood, so I managed to luckily get up on my feet and start hopping my way over to Second (Avenue)," Hammar said.

Several good Samaritans rushed over to help.

"When it happened, I kind of felt like I wouldn't die," Hammar said. "(I'm) super fortunate that everything is working."

Hammar said he is swollen but feels better.

Doctors said the bullets went in through his stomach, and one is still lodged in his spine.

"There was nothing I could say," Hammar said. "They were in cold mode. And it didn't matter obviously what kind of money I gave them."

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Hammar with his medical expenses.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Authors:

In January 2017, Hatzel Vela became the first local television journalist in the country to move to Cuba and cover the island from the inside. During his time living and working in Cuba, he covered some of the most significant stories in a post-Fidel Castro Cuba.