An armed robber who tried to steal a cellphone from a worker got more than he bargained for when his victim shot him in Plantation Thursday.
Officials said the victim and another man were doing a land survey in the area of Northwest 45th Avenue and Northwest 8th Street when he was approached by the suspect, who pulled out a gun and demanded money.
The victim said he didn't have any money and the suspect demanded his cellphone and told him to get on the ground. The victim complied but while he was on the ground he took out his own gun and shot the would-be robber, officials said.
The robber was taken to Broward General Medical center with non-life threatening injuries.
The worker who shot the suspect was identified as Fabian Rosario, an employee of Broward engineering firm Keith and Associates.
"Fabian came back to the office and he is very shook up," owner Eliot Lazowick said. "Fabian, he's a great kid, he has been with us a long time and he is distraught."
Lazowick said field crews throughout the country are vulnerable to robberies and other crimes.
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"There is actually a law enforcement database of all of the robberies that are going on that are affecting surveyors and there has been hundreds of instruments and equipment stolen," he said.
Police said they're investigating the incident.
"As it looks right now, it does appear to be self-defense but as I said, it is under investigation," Plantation Police spokesman Phil Toman said.
