MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A late-night police pursuit Friday ended with a deadly exchange of gunfire in Southwest Miami-Dade County.
On Saturday, investigators spent the morning gathering evidence, taking the gun used in the shooting out of the suspect’s car along with other evidence. They also removed the body of the man who shot at them and who was fatally struck in the exchange with police.
The suspect had been wanted for a separate shooting that took place just miles from where the firefight with officers ended the man’s life.
Miami-Dade police said it all began just before 11 p.m. Friday on Southwest 79th Street and 153rd Court, when the driver shot another man.
“As the officers were approaching the scene they noticed a vehicle traveling southbound on 162nd Avenue that matched the description of the subject vehicle,” Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said.
That’s when police said, the driver of the blue Toyota Corolla took off and crashed into a construction site. After the crash, he began shooting at the officers.
Cell phone video captured the sound of gunfire and Miami-Dade police could be seen with their guns drawn, shooting at the driver.
Police surrounded the suspect’s vehicle and shots were fired back and forth.
“We have an individual who has already shot somebody, struck somebody, and, of course, is going to take brazen acts if he is confronted,” Zabaleta said.
The suspect was shot and died at the scene.
Investigators told Local 10 that the man injured in the first shooting was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. They have not released the names of either men.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident, which is protocol with any police-involved shooting.