WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A man was jailed after deputies said he held a 79-year-old Fire Vape and Lounge employee at knifepoint, severely beat the worker, then stole $150 from the cash register. The suspect also stole the employee’s car keys and took off in the man’s Chevrolet Malibu, reports show.
Andrew John Amo PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
“(The employee’s) left eye sustained severe damage to the point where it was swollen shut,” deputies said in the arrest affidavit.
Andrew John Amo, 36, who deputies described as homeless, was charged with robbery with a weapon, kidnapping another person, grand theft auto, trespassing, grand theft more than $750, resisting officer without violence and battery on a person 65 years of age or older. Amo was held Tuesday at the Indian River County Jail on a $1,125,000 bond.
Amo was also on probation for robbery out of New York, deputies said.
The incident happened shortly after 2 p.m. Monday at Fire Vape and Lounge located in the 6600 block of 20th Street, southwest of the Indian River Mall in the West Vero Corridor. Deputies found the employee bleeding heavily from the face and head while standing in the parking lot, reports show.
The man told deputies that Amo approached him earlier while he was eating lunch at a table inside the business. Amo began talking with the man about the shop and products inside.
Then, Amo picked up the knife from the man’s table, threatened him and demanded that he open the cash register. Amo told the man “I’m robbing you” while pointing the knife at him, reports show.
Amo stole $150 from the cash register, deputies said.
Amo then took the man to the bathroom, where he stole his iPhone 12 worth $500, and a wallet containing $500 in cash along with debit and credit cards, and car keys. Amo struck the man several times in the face, reports show.
Amo left the store and drove off in the man’s vehicle, deputies said. The man told deputies the vehicle belonged to his boss, the owner of Fire Vape and Lounge.
The man was taken to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital for treatment.
The Flock Safety license plate reader camera system helped deputies track the stolen vehicle traveling north on Interstate 95. A sheriff’s helicopter spotted the car abandoned on the right shoulder in the northbound lane at mile marker 152.
Deputies canvassed the wood line east of the interstate and found several of the employee’s bank cards scattered on the ground, reports show. Deputies notified the owner, who assisted them in reviewing surveillance footage of the attack.
Shortly after 3:50 p.m., the sheriff’s helicopter found Amo walking north on I-95 at mile marker 156, reports show. Deputies on the ground took Amo into custody.
Deputies arrested Amo and booked him into the county jail. Amo has an arraignment at 8:45 a.m. Feb. 13, 2025, court records show.