Woman carjacked at gunpoint in North Miami Beach on Memorial Day

Karla Gonzalez says she feared she wouldn't see her children again

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A woman who was carjacked at gunpoint on Memorial Day told Local 10 News that she was afraid she would never see her children again.

Karla Gonzalez, 26, said she was driving home from visiting a friend about 5 a.m. when a car carrying three men blocked her in at the intersection of Northeast 22nd Avenue and Northeast 173rd Street in North Miami Beach.

Gonzalez said two gunmen jumped out of the car and put guns to her head.

"The first thing I thought is, 'Oh my God! I'm not going to be able to see my kids (ever) again," Gonzalez told Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden.

She said that, on most days, her two daughters, ages 2 and 5, would have been in the car with her, but they were staying with their grandmother.

Gonzalez said the gunmen got away with her car, her purse, her iPhone and more than $500 in cash.

The single mother said she moved from Colombia a year ago to make a better life for her family, but now she has no car or money to pay her rent.

"They took everything," Gonzalez said.

Despite the ordeal, Gonzalez was back at work Tuesday. She said she has to keep working hard to support her family.

Police are searching for the stolen Volkswagen Jetta and a red sedan in which the carjackers were traveling.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.