Victim pistol-whipped and robbed, another bitten outside Plantation Publix, cops say

Two suspects are facing charges after a violent robbery outside a Plantation Publix Wednesday night, police said.

Officers responded to the parking lot of the Publix at 6921 West Broward Boulevard shortly after 8:15 p.m. after receiving information about a reported fight involving a firearm, Plantation Police said.

Investigators determined that during the altercation, one suspect pulled out a handgun and struck one of the victims in the back of the head with it before stealing the victim’s cellphone.

A second victim said they were bitten, punched and scratched by another suspect, police said.

One of the victims was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

Witnesses were able to identify the suspects’ vehicle and officers conducted a traffic stop and took them into custody, police said.

One suspect, 28-year-old Khamal J. Powell, is facing charges including robbery with a firearm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and was found to have a warrant out of Brevard County for criminal use of personal identification information, police said.

The second suspect, 29-year-old Khalil S. Powell, is facing a battery charge.

Both were booked into the Broward jail.