Man shot during robbery at Hialeah home arrested on drug trafficking charges

Angel Garcia, 50, targeted Monday by convicted felon, authorities say

Angel Garcia, 50, was arrested June 6 on drug trafficking charges after surviving a shooting during a robbery.

HIALEAH, Fla. ā€“ A man who was shot Monday during a robbery at his Hialeah efficiency was arrested early Tuesday after he was released from the hospital because authorities found cocaine in his home, Hialeah police Sgt. Carl Zogby said.

Zogby said police responded about 10:30 a.m. Monday to the apartment at 5015 Palm Ave. after receiving reports about two men fighting outside.

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Zogby said Angel Garcia, 50, was shot once in the abdomen by Joel Figueroa, 47, who went to the apartment to rob Garcia.

Joel Figueroa, 47, is accused of shooting a Hialeah man during a home invasion robbery.

Garcia was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital and was later released.

According to an arrest report, Garcia said he was outside feeding his pigeons when he was approached by Figueroa, who asked him for a glass of water and asked about purchasing the pigeons.

When Garcia went inside to get the suspect a glass of water, Figueroa followed him and pulled out a silver semi-automatic gun, the report said.

Police said Figueroa demanded the victim's jewelry and Garcia lunged at Figueroa.

Police said the men began to fight inside the apartment and the fight eventually continued outside.

Once outside, Figueroa shot Garcia once in the lower left side of the abdomen, the report said.

Police said Garcia grabbed a statue from the porch and began to strike Figueroa on the head, causing Figueroa to drop the gun.

Police arrived shortly afterward.

Figueroa was arrested at the scene on charges of home invasion robbery with a firearm, using a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated battery with a firearm.

Zogby said Figueroa is a convicted felon with 12 previous arrests for grand theft, cocaine trafficking, armed burglary, armed robbery, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, among other charges. He was on probation when he was arrested.

Garcia was arrested about 1 a.m. Tuesday at his home after authorities found 75 grams of cocaine in small plastic bags inside his apartment, Zogby said.

Zogby said Garcia has two previous cocaine possession arrests and one credit card fraud arrest.

He now faces charges of cocaine trafficking, renting an apartment for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell. Ā Ā 


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.