WLTV/Univision 23 anchorwoman Alina Mayo Azze’s son has been shot in the stomach 3 times on July 9th while he tried to pull a gun away from a thug who wanted to steal his girlfriend’s purse.
The thug ran away and was cought tonight. More info later
TV anchorwoman’s son recovering from wounds
Posted on Mon, Jul. 12, 2004
SOUTH MIAMI
TV anchorwoman’s son recovering from wounds
The son of a well-known TV anchorwoman is recuperating from the gunshot wounds he received during a robbery on Friday in South Miami.
BY KRISTEN BOLT
kbolt@herald.com
The son of a popular Spanish-language television anchorwoman is expected to make a full recovery after being shot twice Friday as he went for the gun of a robber who targeted him and friends in South Miami, his mother said in a statement.
The teen’s mother, Alina Mayo Azze, is the long-time main co-anchor on WLTV-Univision Channel 23 newscasts. She declined to comment Sunday, but thanked viewers for their concern. Some are calling her son, shot in the shoulder and thigh, a hero for trying to foil the attacks.
RECURRING VIOLENCE
In recent months, the areas surrounding the shooting have seen several incidents involving youths and violence.
”Thanks to those prayers my son is fine and will make a full recovery,” she wrote. But the teen’s actions Friday at a South Beach Smoothie, at 7222 SW 57th Ave., near Shops at Sunset Place, could have ended in tragedy.
”The norm is based on common sense,” said Charles Blazek, a spokesman for South Miami police. “You have to ask yourself if what you are carrying is worth your life.”
Blazek, who was on the scene, confirmed eyewitnesses saw the teen “make a play for the gun and get himself shot.”
No arrests have been made and the shooter remains at large. On Sunday, police released a sketch of the suspect.
”It is money and replaceable,” said South Miami mayor Mary Scott Russell said of the incident. The attack on Jorge Azze, one of Mayo Azze’s three children, is the latest in a series of violent acts in or near Sunset Place, a popular hangout for teens during the weekend.
Friday’s violence is prompting Russell to arrange a meeting with Tim Cunningham, the shop’s general manager.
”We have the fax numbers of all the merchants in Sunset Place, so we can fax them the details and suspect descriptions when incidents occur,” Russell said. “We have beat officers walking the streets at night. Thank goodness there have been no homicides.”
ACCOSTED BY ROBBER
Friday’s incident began at 10:37 p.m. when the robber, brandishing a semi-automatic weapon, accosted Jorge and three friends outside the specialty drink shop.
While the teenagers bargained with the robber to keep such items as their car keys, three other female friends walked up and became victims of the robbery as well.
Jorge, taking advantage of the distraction of a girl’s purse dropping to the ground, grabbed the robber’s gun hand and punched him in the face. The robber shot Jorge twice and ran off.
Though police established a half mile perimeter search, they were unable to catch him.
Blocks away in January, Henry Molina, 22, was stabbed during a fight over a baseball cap that his 17-year-old cousin said had been stolen from him.
In December, a throng of teens spilling out of The Place, a dance-club masquerading on its license as a ”teen tea room,” began brawling in the streets. Later that night, someone was shot at a Wendy’s a block away. The Place was shut down by South Miami officials soon after.
On most weeks, there are reports to police of sporadic car break-ins, auto thefts and shoplifting at or near the mall.
”Violence is a problem everywhere,” the mayor said.
David Silver, owner of Cavanaugh’s Men’s Shoe Fitters, feels South Miami’s shopping area is no more crime-ridden than any other in Miami-Dade. ”I would say that three incidents in six months, even if they are serious, doesn’t seem like an epidemic,” Silver said. “The police have done an excellent job, especially considering the heavy activity in the area. We just have to be more vigilant.”
Once of many times, I’d been to SUNSET PLACE, I got lost in a nearby neighbourhood, I slowed down to look for a way out back to US 1, and a couple of guys, walked up to me, asking me if I was interested in buying weed or speed or crack…all this a little after midnight, I then noticed half of the nearby neighbours were awaken, which is odd at those hours…I think Sunset place is surrounded by local thugs, or crack heads, and that is why these things are happening otherwise where are those criminals going to hide if the police look for them???