Police: car owner tried to kill repo men
2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 was on the hook
It was 1 a.m., the black 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 was on tow hook and two recovery agents — better known as “repo men” — were ready to leave when the car’s owner trained a gun on them.
Davie police say that’s what happened Thursday in front of Juan Barquero’s home along the 6100 block of Southwest 190th Avenue in Southwest Ranches.
The two men had their hands in the air and referred to the credentials they were wearing, but Barquero “ordered the victims at gunpoint to lower his car,” a Davie police arrest report said.
When the two men jumped in the tow truck and started driving away, Barquero, 57, fired off seven rounds — six of which went into the truck’s back window, police said.
Almost miraculously, neither
man was struck, but at least one shot came very close.
Police would later find a .9mm bullet lodged in the headrest behind the driver.
“I felt one go behind my neck, the heat of the bullet,” said the tow truck driver, who declined to be identified out of fear for his safety.
“I just put my head down and kept on driving,” he said.
After getting about a half-mile from where the shots were fired, still pulling the Mercedes-Benz, the men pulled over and called 911.
Investigators found seven spent .9mm shells in front of Barquero’s home, said Davie police who have a contract to patrol the town of Southwest Ranches.
Later, the two repo men were separately able to identify Barquero in a photo lineup, police said. After his arrest, he refused to speak to investigators.
Barquero is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and shooting into a vehicle, the arrest report said.