Miami police arrested three out-of-state tourists after they allegedly robbed two people of $9,776 in cash plus personal belongings at a marina on the Miami River early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred at the Regal Marina, located at 2215 NW 14th St. in Miami’s Grapeland Heights neighborhood, just after midnight. Diego Murillo, 40, and Shakeel Singleton, 28, both of New York City, along with Edwin Vargas, 29, of Atlanta, face strong-armed robbery charges in connection with the crime.
According to a Miami Police Department arrest report, the two victims initially approached a yacht “in order to greet the captain, whom they knew.” The three suspects then disembarked from the boat before it departed the marina. Police said the group “approached the victims and surrounded them,” asking “about the whereabouts of the yacht and demanding their money back.”
Authorities said the suspects then took the victims’ bags and went through their pockets during the robbery. The total haul included $9,776 in cash, both victims’ iPhones and other personal belongings. “The group then fled toward the entrance of the marina,” the police report states. The victims received assistance when a marina employee approached them, and one victim asked the employee to contact police.
Surveillance footage from the Regal Marina clearly captured the three men committing the crime, according to Miami police. Officers used the video evidence to identify and detain the suspects before formally arresting all three on strong-armed robbery charges. The marina’s security system provided crucial evidence that led to the swift apprehension of the suspects.
All three defendants remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Wednesday afternoon. Each suspect was being held on a $10,000 bond while awaiting their next court appearance. The arrests highlight ongoing security concerns at Miami-area marinas, where tourists and locals frequently interact in waterfront entertainment districts along the Miami River.