MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) - An attempted traffic stop in Miami Gardens took a wild turn after a vehicle involved in the traffic stop crashed into another car while trying to elude law enforcement. Shortly after, gunfire erupted from the crash site, police said.
The incident happened just after 11 p.m., Thursday night, when, Miami-Dade Police said, their Robbery Intervention Detectives attempted a traffic stop in the area of Northwest 165th Street and 38th Place.
The driver of the vehicle did not stop and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, the subject crashed into a bystander’s car a few blocks down near Northwest 165 Street and 38th Place.
As officers arrived to the crash site, the driver of the vehicle involved in the traffic stop and a passenger took off on foot, leaving behind other passengers inside the car.
Officers quickly captured the driver and the passengers a short distance away from the scene of the crash.
The driver was identified as 21-year-old Antonio Vance Jr. and the passenger was identified as 16-year-old Jean Pierre Moises.
It is unclear what charges they face.
In the midst of that happening, police said gunfire erupted from the crash site when subjects, who stayed behind in the crashed vehicle, approached the civilian driver with a gun. The civilian driver also took out their gun and fired at the subjects, injuring one of his arms.
The subjects ran away from the crash scene.
The injured subject was transported to Aventura Hospital in stable condition after being found by police a few blocks away.
Police haven’t said how many other people were left behind after the driver crashed into the innocent person’s car.
On Friday morning, tow trucks towed away a blue Mercedes and what appeared to be a detective’s car.
It was a certainly a chaotic and terrifying night for neighbors.
“I heard a bang and later shortly after some gunshots,” said area resident Anthony Manacapilli.
“It was terrifying because I’ve never heard gunshots that close, and I was thinking ‘OK, the worst case scenario of maybe they’re gonna come inside this house,'” said area resident Deborah Daniels.
“All of a sudden I hear a crash right here, but then I heard gunshots, and I’m like, ‘OK,’ but then it got closer and I’m like, ‘This is near the house,’ and I knock on my dad’s door and my dad was like, ‘I hear you. I hear you. Just get down. Just lay down,'” said a third resident.
Officials said the civilian driver who fired the shots will not be facing charges.
It remains unclear what led up to the traffic stop.
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