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Police officer shoots man during confrontation on tarmac at Miami International Airport

FDLE investigates police-involved shooting as travelers flee Hurricane Irma

MIAMI – A Miami-Dade police officer shot a man who was acting erratically and ran onto to the tarmac Thursday night at Miami International Airport, police said.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said officers received a report of a man acting erratically in Concourse J. He said the man ran through a restricted area and made his way to the tarmac.

Zabaleta said the officer shot the man after a confrontation ensued.

The man was armed with a knife, Local 10 News investigative reporter Jeff Weinsier reported.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Felipe Lay said the wounded man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. 

The officer was not injured.

Concourse J was shut down during the incident.

MIA was busy amid a rush to leave South Florida to avoid Hurricane Irma. With many flights canceled and long waits to board flights, there was plenty of stress at the airport.

Marc Henderson, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, said there were 114 cancellations Thursday -- 61 arrivals and 53 departures. The airlines affected were American Airlines, Air France, American Eagle, PAWA Dominicana, Santa Barbara Airlines, Silver Airways and Bahamasair.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the police-involved shooting.

@cnnbrk We are evacuating J terminal @iflymia Miami International airport pic.twitter.com/xm5Z7657yz

— Baris Gulec (@bgulec) September 8, 2017

Hey @MiamiHerald - entire Concourse J just evacuated at MIA. Fire trucks and police surrounding aircraft at Gate J7. pic.twitter.com/3vNr5w7pqV

— Shawn Woodford (@ShawnWoodford) September 8, 2017


About the Authors
Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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