HIALEAH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police are searching for the thieves responsible
for shooting and injuring a jewelry store employee during a robbery.

The
trio of bandits stormed into the ABC Jewelry Store, located at 3580 W
18 Ave., at around 6 p.m. Monday. On Tuesday, police released
surveillance footage of the crooks in action, who had their faces
covered by bandannas.

They stormed in and took an armed security
guard by surprise. Pointing a gun at him, they forced him to the ground
and disarmed him of his weapon. A couple inside shopping for wedding
rings were also surprised by the men rushing in the store, brandishing
guns. They hit the ground, as the crooks smashed showcases and stole
handfuls of gold chains.

One of the store employees was
reportedly shot during the robbery before sped off in a white Bentley.
"One of my cousins got injured. That's as far as I know," said the
victim's relative, Alberto Cruz.

Family members identified the victim as Alfredo Betancourt. He was shot once in the stomach.

Rescue
crews transported Betancourt to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he
remains in stable condition. According to the victim's relatives, none
of his vital organs were hit.

Police said the robbery and
shooting even surprised the jewelry store's armed security guard. His
wife was emotional as she arrived at the scene, but she was told her
husband was only disarmed by the gunmen, not shot.

Authorities
called the trio brazen. They said the crooks shot Betancourt even though
everyone inside the store at the time of the robbery cooperated with
them and got on the ground, as they were told. "That's why we call it a
hostile takeover," Hialeah Police Lieutenant Carl Zogby said. "A very,
very dangerous situation. God knows what they're capable of if they face
resistance. At least we know they shot one person. By all accounts,
they really didn't get any resistance."

One woman said there is
security inside the jewelry store, including cameras. Authorities also
hope neighboring businesses had surveillance cameras that captured
images of the suspects.

Hialeah Police are still investigating
the shooting and searching for the suspects responsible, including the
driver of the getaway car.