Suspect killed in police-involved shooting in southwest Miami-Dade

Police say armed teen tried to rob Walgreens

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A teenager was shot and killed after he tried to rob a Walgreens in southwest Miami-Dade County at gunpoint early Thursday morning, Miami-Dade police said.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said employees called 911 shortly before 2 a.m. after the masked teen, identified by the Miami-Dade Police Department as Jorge Tapia, 15, entered the store on the corner of Southwest 288th Street and Biscayne Drive armed with a gun.

A manager told police he teen left in a white four-door Acura.

Zabaleta said police quickly tracked down the car and attempted to pull over the driver, but he sped away.

Police pursued the car a short distance until it became disabled about eight blocks away.

At some point, shots were fired and the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear if Tapia fired shots at officers, but a handgun was found in his car.

"Not only did he use the gun to commit the armed robbery, of course, we have to assume he is going to use the gun against the officers as well," Zabaleta said.

No officers were injured in the shooting.

Local 10 News has learned Tapia turned 15 years old on Oct. 4.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10


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