MIAMI (WSVN) - An attempted traffic stop in Northwest Miami-Dade ended with a police officer firing his weapon, sending a 15-year-old boy to the hospital.
Officers flagged down a black Dodge Challenger in the area of Northwest 56th Street and 22nd Avenue at around 12:45 a.m., Sunday, when the driver refused to pull over and sped off.
“Once [officers] activated their emergency lights, the vehicle immediately fled,” said Miami-Dade Police detective Alvaro Zabaleta.
Police identified the motorist as Vito Corleone-Venisee.
“He’s 15 years old. He had an active warrant for possession of firearms and an occupied burglary,” said Zabaleta.
Investigators said Corleone-Venisee lost control, crashed into a fence and ditched the car.
Zabaleta said an unspecified number of occupants in the vehicle got out and fled on foot in different directions.
A Miami-Dade Police sergeant pursued the teenage driver, and some sort of confrontation unfolded.
“The detective confronted the subject, the subject was armed, shots were fired, the subject was struck,” said Zabaleta.
It remains unclear how many shots were fired and where the teen was struck.
Paramedics transported him to Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.
“There was an assault rifle inside of the vehicle as well,” said Zabaleta. “Tonight could have very easily been a tragic night for law enforcement family, as these individuals were driving around for, one, a 15-year-old driving a car, and secondly, a 15-year-old armed with a handgun. An assault rifle inside of that vehicle, wanted for possession of firearms.”
In total, police said, officers seized three weapons: a black handgun found on the ground, an assault rifle and another handgun found inside the Challenger.
The car was taken away as evidence.
The remaining occupants remain at large.
“These are individuals that clearly are up to no good. We’re going to consider them armed and dangerous,” said Zabaleta.
The sergeant was not injured.
Sunday afternoon, a relative of the teen said he underwent surgery and remains in critical condition.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident. On Monday, FDLE released pictures of the firearms found at the scene.
The family of the teen said they have an attorney, but they are not ready to speak just yet.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of the other occupants who fled the scene, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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