MIAMI – An officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department was shot and critically wounded Monday night in Miami.
Local 10 News has learned that the officer is with MDPD’s Robbery Intervention Detail.
The suspect who opened fire was shot and killed by police, authorities confirmed.
Local 10 News’ Terrell Forney arrived to a scene near the intersection of Northwest 62nd Street and 17th Avenue where armed officers were observed surrounding a white vehicle.
Police said that’s where Miami-Dade RID detectives found a vehicle believed to have been involved in an armed robbery.
The suspect, that was inside that vehicle managed to get away from police by striking several police cars, authorities said. Footage of the vehicle fleeing was captured by Local 10 News cameras, an image of which can be seen below.
Shortly after that, ten blocks away at Northwest 62nd Street and Seventh Avenue, the vehicle crashed into another car, after which shots were fired, police said.
“The car that they was chasing run into the white car – it was a very strong hit,” witness Tony Ladipo said. “The police came – it was like 15 cars (that) came, and when they got out, they start shooting at him. I couldn’t see them shooting at him, but they was shooting. I heard like 20 shots.”
Sources later identified the suspect as 32-year-old Jerry Horton of Madison Heights, Michigan. Horton had a lengthy criminal record. The sequence of events began with a robbery at a Dania Beach convenience store, sources say.
Authorities briefly shut down I-95 in order to rush the injured RID officer to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.
Dozens of police officers almost immediately began gathering at the hospital in a show of support for their injured colleague.
Miami-Dade police confirmed that an officer was shot and asked for prayers.
WATCH: Miami-Dade mayor, Miami-Dade police director hold press conference after officer shot.
“We’re here in solidarity, waiting patiently,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said overnight at a press conference. “The officer is in critical condition and all we can do now is wait and pray and be together. So we ask all of you to join us in prayers, in support for the family and for the entire law enforcement community that is on vigil, is on standby during this difficult time.”
The three occupants of the vehicle that the suspect crashed into at the second scene were taken to a local hospital and are listed in stable condition, police said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
Earlier report: