MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – An armed man was shot by police officers in Miami-Dade County on Wednesday.
Not far away, a multi-vehicle crash was also being investigated by police.
Officers confirmed late Wednesday night that the two scenes were connected.
The shooting occurred along Northwest 24th Avenue near 40th Street at approximately 7 p.m.
In video obtained by Local 10, officers can be heard yelling “drop the gun” before shots were fired.
According to police, the armed man was involved in the car accident and fled on foot, with his gun, after the collision.
“The subject exits the vehicle armed and begins to flee on foot, across a park on 50th Street where children were playing,” said Miami-Dade Police Public Information Officer Alvaro Zabaleta. “The officers immediately gave chase on foot, they gave him multiple verbal commands, shots were fired. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene and transported him to (Jackson Memorial Hospital) Ryder (Trauma Center) where he is listed in critical condition.”
Witness Jeffrey Owens told Local 10 News’ Christian De La Rosa that he was at the park across from Brownsville Middle School when he saw a man with a gun running from police down 24th Avenue.
“We was out there playing basketball and we heard, ‘Get down on the ground. Get down on the ground,’” said Owens. “He had a gun and he was running and police just shot him.”
Neighbors told Local 10 News they’ve seen gun violence in the area before but nothing like this.
“I don’t understand why he had a firearm wide open like that while the kids are outside playing basketball but thank God the police was there,” said a man who asked to remain unidentified.
While Sky 10 was above the scene, it also spotted what appeared to have been a violent multi-vehicle crash near 24th Avenue and 50th Street.
One car came to a stop in a front yard after plowing through a fence.
Miami-Dade police set up a wide perimeter as detectives were observed processing the scene.
Police have not identified the suspect or provided any update on his health status.
Local 10 News reporter Annaliese Garcia contributed to this story.