MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A man who was injured during a fatal police-involved shooting on Miami Beach during Urban Beach Weekend told his story Friday.
Cedrick Perkins, of Tallahassee, said he was one of four bystanders who was shot as police officers opened fire Monday morning, trying to stop a car as it traveled three blocks on Collins Avenue. Raymond Herisse, 22, the driver of the car, was fatally shot.
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It is unclear who fired the shot that injured Perkins, who was in front of the Dolores Hotel at Collins Avenue and 14th Street. Perkins said he is convinced he was shot by police bullets.
Perkins was shot in the upper chest and was treated and released Monday. The bullet remains in his chest.
After returning to Tallahassee and hiring lawyers, Perkins returned to South Florida and called a news conference Friday to tell his version of events publicly.
"I see police open fire on this vehicle. I feel a burning sensation in my chest, and once I get inside the motel, my shirt (is) covered in blood. They laid me down on the floor and told me to elevate my feet, and by that time, I'm thinking about my daughter and my family, and praying to God to let me live," Perkins said. "I never seen nobody shoot but the police from the opposite side of the street."
"At worst, it's excessive force. At best, it's reckless -- reckless conduct on behalf of law enforcement," said Benjamin Crump, Perkins' attorney.
There is no information on whether the bullet will be extracted from Perkins' chest to compare to the gun of a possible shooter.
Miami Beach police said they had not heard of Perkins or any possible lawsuit. Police said Perkins had not filed a complaint with or contacted the department, but that he is welcome to check with the Internal Affairs Department.
Perkins' is not the only allegation that Miami Beach police officers acted inappropriately over Memorial Day weekend. A Palm Beach man close enough to record the barrage of bullets on his cellphone claimed officers cursed at him, cuffed him, grabbed his cellphone and smashed it before taking it away.
In addition, Local 10 photographer Brian Ely's camera was rolling Monday morning when officers came at him. Ely said an officer told him, "There's a shooter right here. You need to get out of here."
Ely complied immediately, but as he did, "All of a sudden, my camera is forcefully pulled off my shoulder," Ely said.
The officer who took the camera from Ely's shoulder with no warning and no explanation did not know it was still recording.
"Shock and amazement, and he told me I'm not getting it back," Ely said.
Ely did get his camera back later that morning. Police officers at any crime scene can by law confiscate anything they deem evidence, but they must give a property receipt. The Palm Beach man did get a receipt for his cellphone.
None of the people who made public complaints have filed any complaints with the Miami Beach Police Department.