MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities in southwest Miami-Dade County are investigating a shooting that injured an off-duty officer.
Miami-Dade police responded to an event center near Southwest 122nd Street and 183rd Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
"When the officers arrived to the scene, they met with the victim, which happens to be an off-duty Miami Dade police officer," Detective Argemis Colome said.
Investigators said the 13-year veteran officer was attending a kids party when he was shot in the shoulder by what appeared to be a stray bullet. Police said it's a flesh wound.
"This was a family event. There was a lot of children here," Colome said. "This could've been a humongous tragedy on a day that people are celebrating with their family and friends."
Police said the officer was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital South in stable condition. He was rolled into the hospital on a stretcher, with his right arm bandaged and in a sling.
"Fortunately enough, he is in stable condition and in very good spirits," Colome said.
The officer has since been released from the hospital.
The area has a lot of open land and is near several outdoor shooting ranges. As investigators work to gather clues about where the bullet came from, Eduardo Gil with At Ease Party Rental told Local 10 News that police said he would have to return at a later time to pick up his bounce house. After hearing of the stray bullet, he said this is not the first time this has happened in the area and it needs to stop.
"We hear gunshots all the time back here," Gil said. "Some people should not be owning guns if they don't know they can shoot up, because what goes up must come down."
Police said no one else at the event was injured.
Police are still searching for who fired the shot. If that person doesn't come forward and detectives find that individual, they could face criminal charges.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477) or 866-471-8477, visit crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or send a text message to 274637 -- enter CSMD followed by the tip information and press send.