MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Family members have identified a man who was shot by Miami-Dade police Monday night.
Miami-Dade police said officers were called to a domestic dispute between two brothers at a home on Southwest 41st Terrace.
Police said one of the brothers was holding a machete and ignored officers' commands to drop the weapon.
"They ordered the individual with the machete to drop the machete," Miami-Dade police Acting Director Juan Perez said. "The gentleman refused and actually lunged toward the officer, and the officer unfortunately had to discharge her weapon."
The 56-year-old man was taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center in critical condition. No officers were hurt.
Alejandro Fernandez, 49, told Local 10 News that he and his wounded brother, Richard Fernandez, 57, suffer from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, respectively. Alejandro Fernandez said the fight started shortly after he gave Richard Fernandez alcohol and refused to give him more.
He said Richard Fernandez used a machete to cut down coconuts to break his bedroom window, and then their 80-year-old mother called police.
"He went out there, you know, with the machete, you know, still aggressive, still angry," Alejandro Fernandez said.
Alejandro Fernandez said his brother was shot twice, but he doesn't blame the officer.
"What they do is to protect and to serve, and that's what they did," Alejandro Fernandez said.
Police said the officer who shot Richard Fernandez is a seven-year veteran.