MIAMI – A man who barricaded himself inside a midtown Miami condo was found dead inside the unit after being shot. It remains unclear as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates whether the man died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if a shot by police killed him.
According to Miami police, officers were called to a building in the area of Buena Vista Boulevard and Northeast 34th Street just before 3 a.m. regarding a suspicious person in the lobby of a building who was carrying a long rifle and wearing body armor.
Chief Manny Morales of the Miami Police Department said: “The officers gave verbal commands ultimately discharging the firearm in self-defense. The offender slammed the door shut.”
Police said they negotiated with the man because they heard music coming from the unit, but officers entered after some time and found him dead.
No officers were injured.
While residents were being allowed back into their units, police are still trying to determine why the man was armed and what his intentions were. Cell phone video from residents shows SWAT team members gathering in the lobby of the 2 Midtown condominium building.
Residents Roxanne Chow and Jim Wallin described the terrifying moments when they said shots rang out next door to their apartment.
“(I) opened the door and found 3 or 4 police with guns drawn,” Wallin said.
Chow said the resident seemed like a “normal guy. Nothing out of the ordinary that we noticed.”
“I think it’s just a shame that he’s no longer with us,” Wallin added.