Woman was found shot multiple times on I-195 in Miami Beach. Cops have made an arrest

A woman was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the shoulder of the Julia Tuttle Causeway in Miami Beach last month. Weeks later, police have now made an arrest in what they’re calling a kidnapping and shooting that nearly killed her.

At about 1:40 a.m. Sept 10, police say 33-year-old Mercedes Green went to a Miami Gardens home with a group of unnamed co-defendants to confront the victim, who has yet to be named. The confrontation was allegedly over money, drugs and a stolen firearm, according to Green’s arrest report.

A witness opened the door for the group, who then asked for the victim. The victim came to the door, denied knowing anything about a stolen gun and shut the door on them, police say.

However, when the group knocked again, the witness opened the door once more and the group forced their way into the home.

One of the men, armed with a firearm, accused the victim of stealing his gun. The victim denied it, but cops say the man proceeded to strike her with his gun and fists.

Other members of the group, including Green, also assaulted the victim, police say, adding that she hit the victim on the head with a tequila bottle.

They then dragged her out of the house and forced her into a car. The witness told police another member of the group pulled out a gun to keep anyone from intervening.

The victim finally told the group that the alleged stolen gun was at her father’s abode. When the group arrived at his home, he denied having a gun and they left.

Around 3 a.m., the group stopped on the shoulder of the Julia Tuttle Causeway, pulled the victim out of the car and the first armed man who beat her then shot her three times before fleeing the scene. License plate readers captured the car leaving the area about ten minutes later, per the arrest report.

Despite her injuries, police say the victim walked along the causeway looking for help until Miami Beach Police got a call about a body on the side of the road.

She was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center with injuries so bad that she had to intubated and could not give a statement at the time, police say.

A few days later, investigators learned that the victim was taken from the Miami Gardens home and questioned the first witness who said there was still blood on on the floor and ceilings that belonged to the victim, despite having cleaned the house.

On Sept. 13, the victim was able to speak with police and told investigators that she knew all the alleged offenders except for Green.

The victim told police she had been with the man, who would later shoot her multiple times on the causeway, at a motel the day before. But shortly after leaving the motel, he called her and accused her of stealing his gun. The victim said she subsequently went to a friend’s house, where the kidnapping occurred.

Last week, the victim identified Green from a photo lineup.

Miami Gardens Police on Tuesday arrested Green, who they say denied being present for the shooting.

She faces charges of attempted felony murder, robbery or home invasion with a firearm and kidnapping with a weapon or firearm.

Several suspects remain at large as police continue to investigate.

This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 8:05 AM.