Florida Hard Rock Casino Visitors Robbed at Gunpoint, Suspect Remains At Large

Florida Hard Rock Casino Visitors Robbed at Gunpoint, Suspect Remains At Large.

Costfoto / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

A gunman allegedly fired a shot toward a couple on Sunday after they returned home from Florida’s . The masked bandit also stole their money, cops said.

Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino HollywoodFlorida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino Hollywood, pictured above. Two casino visitors were robbed when they arrived at their home. (Image: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino Hollywood)

The victims had been at the casino. They then drove back to their house in Boca Roton, Fla., arriving at about 4:30 am. When they left their car, the robber pulled out the firearm, WPLG, a local TV station, reported.

He demanded their money, wallets, and cell phones, police said. He then jumped over a cement wall. When he turned around, he allegedly discharged the gun in their direction. He then fled the scene.

The couple had spent the night at the Hard Rock. Police were unsure if the suspect had begun tailing the couple at the casino. It was not immediately known how much money was stolen.

No one was injured in the event.

Robbery in Iowa

Earlier this month, two bandits forced an Iowa casino winner off the road in Des Moines and stole over $10,000 from her, police said. Police arrested one alleged robber and continued to search for another.

One of the suspects allegedly broke her driver’s side window, opened the driver’s door, and then yanked her purse out of the car. The money she had just won while playing at Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona was in her pocketbook.

, 30, of Delaware Township, Iowa, was arrested. He had a handgun during the holdup, police claim. He was the one who shattered the window and stole the purse, police said. Spencer was booked in the Polk County Jail. He is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree theft, going armed with intent, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, failure to affix a drug stamp, and possession of a controlled substance, according to online jail records.

He remained in custody. Bail was set at $60,000, according to WHO, a local TV station. He is scheduled to appear in local court on Aug. 1.

The victim was on her way home when the incident took place. She had won two separate jackpots at the casino. She was not injured.

It appears at least one of the suspects began following the victim while she was still at the casino, police said. He continued tailing her, leaving the casino at the same time she did.

With her description, police identified Spencer on Prairie Meadows surveillance video, police said. The footage showed him near the victim when she won the money. He later was apprehended at the same casino.

Prior Incident

In October, a 27-year-old Pennsylvania man was charged with first-degree murder after following a victim from a casino to his home some 50 miles away.

Jekai Reid-John of Norristown allegedly tailed Sree Aravapalli, 54, from Pennsylvania’s to Plainsboro, N.J., where he was shot and later died. Just hours before the shooting, Reid-John allegedly watched Aravapalli leave the Bensalem, Pa. gaming property with the night’s winnings.

Reid-John followed Aravapalli until the victim eventually stopped at his house. Reid-John then allegedly followed him and entered the residence via a sliding door. Aravapalli was downstairs when several shots were fired and he suffered “multiple gunshot wounds,” prosecutors said in a statement.

A car sped off after the gunfire, a neighbor told police.

Article Sources
Successful Texas Gambling Legislation Is Questionable as Dan Patrick Remains the Gatekeeper editorial policy.
  1. Federal Bill Seeks to Implement Sports Betting Guardrails

Compare Accounts
×
Woman Allegedly Stole $200K Worth of Items from Drugged Guests at Vegas Hotel
Provider
Name
Description
New Jersey, New York Still Hotbeds of Black Market Sports Betting  Grand Island Casino Resort Construction at Nebraska’s Fonner Park to Soon Begin  Brazil Senate Again Delays Sports Betting Discussion  Macau Could End Hong Kong Quarantine Requirement Effective July 3  MGM Japan Casino Debut Pushed to 2030, Cost Surges $1.29 Billion  Pittsburgh Steelers Finally Fire Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada  PokerStars Likely to Pull Out of Australia, Says Amaya, But India Beckons  Donald Trump Cabinet Choices and Presidential Direction Become Latest Prediction Market Wagers  Chicago Slots Salesman Who Sued ‘Are We Dating the Same Guy?’ Imprisoned for Tax Evasion  MGM Resorts Workers Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract