SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A man has died after officers say they were forced to return fire during a shooting in Southwest Miami-Dade, according to police.
Miami-Dade Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene at a Chevron gas station at Southwest 160th Street and 95th Avenue at approximately 1:30 p.m., Thursday.
Authorities said the unidentified man fired shots at officers, and he was killed when officers shot back.
According to Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez, the subject attempted to steal a bicycle from a bus in the area. After a confrontation with a civilian, Ramirez said the subject fired his weapon at the civilian.
“Think of the trauma that is for the people on that bus,” Ramirez said. “He shot at a civilian. The civilian tried to stop him from taking the bicycle.”
Following the incident with the civilian, police said the man fled to a nearby Chevron gas station, where he tried to enter the store, but the clerk would not let him. That’s when, police said, the man fired his weapon once again.
“The clerk was alert and did not allow him into the store,” Ramirez said. “At that moment, he got enraged, began firing his weapon and again. As my officers arrived on the scene, he was firing his firearm.”
When he attempted to flee the scene at the gas station, police said the man stole a Land Rover from a nearby dealership that was being gassed up, drove off and crashed into another vehicle in the area while trying to get away. He would later crash into the First Stop Market, along Homestead Avenue and Evergreen Street.
“There was a confrontation, shots were fired. The subject is deceased on the scene,” Ramirez said. “I just want to say how thankful I am, how relieved I am that none of my officers or any members of our community was injured due to the actions of this individual.”
“I was standing outside, and I saw the guy come through,” a witness said. “He was, like, speeding, and then, a cop came behind him. All I heard was ‘Ra, ta, ta, ta,’ they were shooting.”
7SkyForce HD hovered over the scene where a blue Land Rover could be seen crashed into the front of the market.
A body covered by a yellow tarp could be seen on the sidewalk next to the vehicle.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation, which is protocol whenever an officer is involved in a shooting.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.