Two children aged 10 and 12 had a terrifying experience on the night of Sunday, August 23, when they returned to their home in Hallandale Beach and came face to face with an armed man rummaging through their belongings, according to a report by Telemundo 51.
The suspect, 36 years old and identified as Rashad Randzell Corouthers, had entered the house through a broken rear window barely covered with a piece of wood, located in the 1000 block of Southwest Third Avenue in Broward County.
What the cameras captured
The surveillance cameras captured the intruder moving through various rooms with their face covered, using a flashlight for illumination and carrying a bag where they were presumably placing valuable items.
According to the police statement, "surveillance footage captured him inside the residence as he traversed various areas and placed items into a shopping bag."
What Corouthers did not anticipate was the return of the family while he was still inside.
The meeting with the children
When the two minors entered the house, they came face to face with the intruder. Authorities indicated that the suspect pointed a gun at them and repeatedly ordered them to leave the residence.
The children ran toward their parents, who were waiting in the driveway. The video from the security cameras captured their screams and cries as the suspect fled.
A local resident, Eve Mart, expressed her outrage when interviewed by Local 10: “The idea that a man points a gun at a child is terrifying. You have to be a very sick person to do that.”
The arrest and background of the suspect
Corouthers was arrested on Tuesday, two days after the incident, partly thanks to the GPS monitoring ankle bracelet he was wearing.
The information is particularly alarming: the suspect was on probation awaiting trial for a previous charge of burglary, and yet he was carrying a weapon, being a convicted felon with four prior convictions for serious offenses, which legally prohibited him from possessing any type of firearm.
After appearing before a judge, he was denied bail and was remanded to the main jail in Broward County.
He faces a charge of armed invasion of a dwelling, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The police's reaction
The chief of police of Hallandale Beach, Michel Michel, did not hide his dismay.
"There is no family that should have to go through what these two children experienced in their own home," the official stated.
“Our hearts are with them and their parents. We are especially grateful that they were able to leave that residence safe and sound, and I am proud of the detectives and officers who worked day and night to put this suspect in custody,” Michel added.
Taking advantage of the case's impact, authorities issued a series of recommendations for residents of South Florida.
Recommended measures include: promptly repairing damaged windows and doors; ensuring all entrances are locked even when people are home; installing outdoor lighting near access points; and establishing a family plan in case of potential intruders that includes leaving the area immediately and calling 911 from a safe location.
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