Miami pawn shop closed day after customer killed during robbery

Value Joyeria y Prestamos to reopen Saturday

MIAMI – A Miami pawn shop is closed Friday, a day after police said a customer was killed there during a robbery.

A sign posted on the gate of Value Joyeria Y Prestamos at 717 SW 17th Ave. said the store will reopen on Saturday.

Police tape was still on the ground Friday and the parking lot gate was locked shut a day after the reported shooting.

Police said a customer, Ricardo Soler Reyes, 65, was found dead inside the shop Thursday after two armed men who pulled up in a red SUV stormed in and robbed the business.

Police said one of the men started smashing jewelry display cases while the other pointed his gun at customers in the store.

One of the men opened fire moments later, killing the victim.

"(He was a) nice fella," Juan Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez owns the mini market across the street and said Soler Reyes was also one of his customers.

"Of course it makes us concerned. We're all concerned, because it could happen to anybody," he said.  

Business owners in the area have been reviewing their surveillance videos in hopes of finding the gunmen or their vehicle on camera to bring the victim and his family some justice.

"It's a hard, hard time," Gonzalez said. "It's heartbreaking."

Soler Reyes' brothers told Local 10 News that he lived just across the street from the pawn shop and was there to look at a TV with a friend.

His landlord said Soler Reyes was shot in the chest.


About the Author:

Layron Livingston made the move from Ohio's Miami Valley to Miami, Florida, to join the Local 10 News team.