MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A teenager died Thursday night after a police-involved shooting in northwest Miami Dade County.
The shooting happened just off 79th Street and 31st Avenue outside the Flea Market USA.
Miami-Dade police told Local 10 an investigation into several stolen and burglarized vehicles involving both Miami-Dade and Coral Gables police led them to the scene.
Detectives said Jason Carulla, 17, was picking up a stolen Toyota Sequoia. An MDPD Sergeant pulled up behind the SUV, and police said Carulla rammed the unmarked police vehicle.
Quickly after, two Coral Gables police officers fired at Carulla to protect themselves and the MDPD Sergeant.
Carulla was pronounced dead at the scene.
"We saw a bunch of fire shots and all of a sudden police swarmed out of nowhere," Mila Kay, who was working nearby, told Local 10. "So it was some crazy stuff."
"I was standing right here at this last door when I seen the officer talking to the guy or whatever," Octavia Pierson, who was inside the flea market at the time, added. "I walked in. As soon as I walked in, they said there (were) gunshots outside. Everybody started running back in. When I came out, they already had it roped off and everybody just ran back in.
Police said they are not looking for anyone at this time but have a long investigation ahead.
Carulla's family members told Local 10 they question whether police used excessive force when they fatally shot Carulla, despite his criminal history.