FBI raids Doral store in connection with 2019 shooting of prominent auto designer – NBC 6 South Florida

FBI agents raided a Doral auto repair shop Friday morning in connection with the attempted murder of a prominent car designer in 2019, NBC6 learned.

A source close to the investigation said the raid on the Northwest 97th Avenue store was related to the August 2019 shooting of Alex Vega and led to the arrest of at least one person.

FBI officials confirmed they were “conducting court-ordered law enforcement activities in the vicinity of this location,” but did not provide further information.

Vega runs The Auto Firm in Kendall and has customized high-end cars for celebrities, including Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, singer Marc Anthony and rapper Rick Ross.

Two men, Jaime Serrano and Julian Jimenez, were later arrested in connection with the crime.

Prosecutors said Serrano and Jimenez flew from New York to Miami, where they rented a car and monitored the victim at his business and home to learn his daily routine.

On Aug. 27, 2019, Vega was driving to his garage when Jimenez, wearing a mask and gloves, approached Vega's car and shot him eight times, prosecutors said. Jimenez then ran back to a car driven by Serrano, who then drove away.

Surveillance video captures the moment the shooter ran to Vegas' car and started shooting.

Vega survived, but was hit three times and had to undergo surgery to remove the projectiles from his body.

Serrano was later found guilty of interstate stalking, conspiracy to use a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison last November.

Jimenez pleaded guilty to the same charges before trial.