MIAMI (WSVN) - Rescue crews rushed a man to the hospital after what police described as an officer-involved shooting in Miami.
City of Miami Police and Fire Rescue responded to the scene of the incident in the area of Northeast 79th Street and 10th Avenue, Friday night.
According to investigators, they received a call about a man who was shooting a firearm into the air.
A witness who lives across from where the incident took place said he heard multiple shots.
“I heard about 10 or 12 gunshots, like before even the police got here,” said the witness, who asked not to be identified or show his face on camera.
Responding officers arrived to find a subject armed with an assault rifle outside of a car.
“Units arrived shortly thereafter. They were able to make contact with the individual,” said Miami Police Chief Manny Morales.
Detectives said an officer was forced to discharge his firearm, striking the subject in the chest and stomach area, just before 8 p.m.
“The subject was down. There was a rifle on the scene,” said Morales.
Paramedics transported the subject to Ryder Trauma Center, where he is listed in critical condition.
Cameras showed first responders wheeling the patient into the hospital. One paramedic was seen giving oxygen to the injured man.
Investigators said the subject lives near where he was shot, along the 7800 block of Northeast Tenth Avenue.
The witness who spoke with 7News said he’s shocked by what the man is accused of doing.
“It’s just crazy, because innocent people live here, people work every day, and some crazy guy just comes with a gun and shoots it,” he said. “Somebody could have got hurt.”
Video from a nearby balcony captured multiple police cruisers responding to the scene.
Officers shut down Northeast 79th Street between Eighth and Tenth avenues while they investigated.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
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