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A nightmare scenario played out in front of a Liberty City restaurant yesterday when an armed mugger confronted a mother with two young kids in tow and demanded her purse. The mom, identified by her family as Evelyn Matamoro, handed over her purse without a struggle — but then the mugger shot her in the face anyway.
Matamoro remains in critical condition this morning as police look for the shooter.
Update: Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting: 20-year-old Kamiah Lanier.
The horrific crime went down around 5:30 p.m. yesterday at a restaurant at NW 7th Avenue and 53rd Street, says Kenia Reyes, a Miami Police Department spokeswoman.
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Matamoro was leaving the eatery with her two kids when the mugger attacked, Reyes says.
After shooting Matamoro in the face, the man fled the scene in a gray Dodge Charger.
Matamoro was rushed to Jackson, where she’s still in critical condition.
Anyone with info on the shooting should call 305-471-TIPS.
Update: Police arrested Lanier, a 20-year-old with a serious felony record, after Matamoro helped identify him from her hospital bed.
Lanier was charged with a series of felonies in August 2011, including armed robbery, aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, and attempted robbery.
He now faces new charges of attempted murder, armed robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and use of a firearm during a felony.
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