NewsPalm Beach CountyRegion C Palm Beach CountyWest Palm Beach

Actions

Food truck recovered after man shot, carjacked in West Palm Beach

Posted at 6:47 AM, May 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-12 21:29:15-04

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - West Palm Beach police said a man was shot and had his food truck stolen early Friday morning.

Investigators said the shooting and carjacking occurred at 5:26 a.m. at 4065 North Haverhill Rd.

The victim was transported to a local hospital. He was last listed in critical but stable condition, but police said he is expected to survive.

A co-worker told WPTV the victim was shot in the face and stomach, she says this isn't the first time he was victimized either.

Claudia Arango said about three weeks ago the victim was robbed as he was waiting for a nearby business he serves food at to open.

Arango said the incident happened in the same parking lot where Friday's carjacking occurred.

"We all pray for 'Eddie' to be OK and for us to be safe," Arango said. "I'm a mother of two kids, and I don't want to have this kind of incident."

West Palm Beach police searched for the stolen food truck much of the morning.

At about 9:30 a.m. an employee of iHeartRADIO found the truck unoccupied outside the gates of WJNO's radio studios located at 3071 Continental Dr. in West Palm Beach. 

Dave Brown said he recognized the truck from previous news reports. Upon checking the surveillance video, he saw someone park the truck outside the studio at about 5:35 a.m. and then run away.

He hopes the video helps police officers catch the shooter.

“The man was just earning his living, waiting to start to his day. And somebody decides it’s easier to take something than to work for it. For the average person like me, that doesn’t stick too well,” Brown explained.

The victim’s boss said the criminal did not take any food from the truck and there was no money to begin with.

He said many of the victim’s customers have reached out to him to check on Eddie.

“He’s the kind of guy that gets along very good with everybody. He’s a very friendly guy and he’s a hard worker,” said Elco Arango, of Elco’s Catering.

No one has been arrested in the case. The alleged assailant was described as a black male approximately 5' 5" with a stocky build.

If you have information, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477)