SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Several shots were fired at Miami-Dade Police officers who were investigating a scene in Southwest Miami-Dade.
The shooting occurred along Homestead Avenue and Evergreen Street at around 7:40 p.m., Wednesday.
Officers said a young man approached them while they were in their unmarked vehicles and opened fire.
Another close call tonight as members of our Homicide Bureau’s Street Violence Task Force are fired upon while doing their job in South Miami-Dade. Thankfully, the Officers are ok but we need tips to identify the shooter(s). Call 305-471-TIPS or 9-1-1 if an emergency. pic.twitter.com/eh6niZjgUC
— Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@AFreddyRamirez) August 6, 2020
“A gun exchange ensued between the officers and the male. He immediately ran from the scene and a perimeter was established,” said Miami-Dade Police detective Argemis Colome. “He was able to strike three police vehicles, and it was a very close call for our officers. Thankfully, none of them were injured.”
The involved officers are part of the department’s homicide bureau’s street violence task force, Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez said.
Alvaro Zabaleta showed 7News the bullet holes that dented the three unmarked vehicles belonging to his police department.
He showed the four rounds that went into the door of a white pickup truck, plus a bullet hole that shaved close to the windshield.
“Those four rounds you see are the detectives shooting out, and in order to fight for his life, he had to shoot from inside of his vehicle,” Zabaleta said.
The black Chevy Malibu had bullet holes from two different points at which it was hit. The first set of bullet holes on the side of the car came from the shooter, while the officers fired a bullet through the windshield.
7News cameras captured agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on the scene.
“This person was willing to shoot a police officer, and a person that’s capable to shoot a police officer is capable of shooting at anyone,” said Colome.
Detectives said the shooter appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s.
Just days ago, another shootout took place between Miami-Dade Police and a man in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Early Saturday morning, in the area of Southwest 255th Street and 147th Avenue, the department’s Homicide Task Force responded to a sighting of a fugitive wanted for shooting at officers in North Carolina.
MDPD officials said the man barricaded himself in his home and refused to come out.
“After long negotiations and failed attempts for the subject to surrender, an entry was made, at which time there was an exchange of gunfire with the subject,” said Ramirez.
The fugitive was pronounced dead at the scene but not before one officer was struck by a bullet.
“The subject struck one of our SRT officers in his tactical vest. Thank goodness that he’s OK. It did not penetrate his skin,” said Ramirez.
If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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