Four young men came to South Florida from Indiana for spring break and ended up in a life or death struggle with a gunman at a gas station in Oakland Park.
When it was all over, they were shaken up but unhurt, the man with the gun got away — but his alleged accomplice was later arrested.
It happened just before 3:45 a.m. Sunday, outside a Mobil gas station at 901 W. Oakland Park Blvd., the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.
The four were returning from a night out in Miami Beach and were running low on fuel.
While one of them was pumping gas, another car pulled up to a nearby fuel island.
The gas station’s security surveillance shows a man with a dark bandana covering his face — and a gun in his hand — go over to the men. He pointed the gun at the four and said, “Give me everything you got,” said Gina Carter, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
And then, a chilling scuffle breaks out.
During the struggle, the alleged accomplice ran over and began pushing the men off the gunman causing the gun to fall on the ground, detectives said.
The gunman and his helper drove off in a black Hyundai Sonata, but the victims were able to give its tag information to detectives.
Less than an hour after the confrontation, Fort Lauderdale police went to the address of the registered owner and saw a man leaning against the Hyundai. He was later identified as Kevin Campbell, 33.
“When law enforcement approached, Campbell ran,” Carter said. “Fort Lauderdale police’s K9 found Campbell hiding in some bushes,” she said.
He was arrested on several charges, including robbery with a firearm.
The gun, a silver 9mm Taurus, was stolen during a 2017 vehicle burglary, the sheriff’s office said.
The gunman is still on the loose. He is described as stocky, about 6 feet tall, an estimated 210 pounds with dark dreadlocks.
Investigators ask anyone with information to contact Broward Sheriff’s Detective Mark Copley at 954-321-4738 or contact Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-8477 or online at browardcrimestoppers.org. Tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
This story will be updated. Check back for additional information.
wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan