OAKLAND PARK, FLORIDA — A business owner wasn’t about to be a victim when two thugs armed with handguns came into his business in an attempt to rob them.
During a moment of vulnerability of one of the thugs, the owner saw the opportunity to tackle him to the ground and then fight him for his handgun.
From the video:
The owner of an auto parts store fought back Monday afternoon when two gunmen showed up at his office to rob him, eventually wresting the gun from one assailant and shooting him multiple times as his accomplice ran away.
Broward Sheriff’s Office robbery detectives have released surveillance video of the violent confrontation. They are asking the public to help identify the gunman who fled, as well as a witness who did not remain on scene. Detectives are also looking for a dark grey, late-model BMW and its driver who fled the scene just after the shooting.
The video shows CAD Auto Parts owner Andrew Hepburn just before 1 p.m. sitting in his office in the Oakland Industrial Park. Two gunmen entered. One, later identified as Conrad Bloomfield, ordered Hepburn to the ground face-down, pistol-whipped him and tried to put his hands behind his back. When the gunman became distracted, Hepburn grabbed his assailant’s legs, and the two began to fight. During the struggle, Hepburn gained control of the gun and shot Bloomfield repeatedly. From outside of the office, the second gunman then shot at Hepburn, with one bullet going through a wall and hitting him. Bloomfield’s accomplice ran away, and the BMW sped off after the shooting. Oakland Park Fire Rescue transported Hepburn and Bloomfield to Broward Health Medical Center.
Anyone with information about the accomplice, the second victim, bring him back so the owner can shoot him too, or contact Det. Trevor Goodwin at (954) 321-4270 or report anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Broward County at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Risky business, and good for this business owner stepping up and giving these two thugs hell. It’s a tense few moments to watch on video, and I can’t imagine how things would have been to actually be involved.
Victims fighting back.
