FBI agents searched an auto repair shop in Doral on Friday morning in connection with the 2019 attempted murder of a well-known automotive designer, according to information obtained by NBC6.
Investigators said the raid at the Doral Collision Center on Northwest 97th Street was connected to the August 2019 shooting death of Alex Vega and led to at least one arrest.
An FBI official confirmed that the bureau was “conducting court-ordered law enforcement activity near the location” but declined to provide any other information.
Vega runs The Auto Farm in Kendall and has customized luxury vehicles for celebrities including Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, singer Marc Anthony and rapper Rick Ross.
Two men, Jaime Serrano and Julian Jimenez, were subsequently 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 victims’ workplaces and homes, keeping track of their daily lives.
According to prosecutors, on Aug. 27, 2019, Vega was parking his car in his garage when Jimenez, wearing a mask and gloves, approached Vega’s vehicle and shot him eight times, before running back to Serrano’s car, who then drove off.
Surveillance footage showed the moment a gunman ran up to Vega’s car and began firing.
Vega survived, but was shot three times and required surgery to remove the bullets from his body.
NBC6’s Alex Vega spoke to reporters in November 2019, months after he was shot multiple times.
Serrano was later convicted of interstate stalking, conspiracy to use a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime and use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison last November.
Jimenez pleaded guilty to the same charges before trial.
Doral Collision Center is next door to Exclusive Motoring Worldwide. Prior to 2019, Vega was a business partner in Exclusive Motoring, but he got into a dispute with the owner over the company that ended up in court.
Vega lost his position in the business and went into the car business himself.
