Related videos:
Two police officers were injured Thursday morning in Miami while responding to a report of gunfire involving a high-caliber rifle.
The shooting, which occurred at the intersection of NW 15 Avenue and 26th Street, triggered a massive mobilization of law enforcement and a SWAT team operation after the attacker barricaded himself in a house.
Authorities are continuing negotiations with the suspect, while investigating the connection of another person who has been taken into custody.
The start of the shooting: high-caliber bursts
It all began around 7:45 in the morning when numerous calls reported gunfire in the Allapattah neighborhood.
Officers from the Miami Police Department responded to the scene, where they came under fire. A male and a female police officer were shot in the legs, as confirmed by the department, and were transported to Ryder Trauma Center.
While the injured officers were being evacuated, the shooter barricaded himself in a house, from where he opened fire again minutes later.
This forced the authorities to intensify their response and deploy negotiators and specialized tactical teams.
"As you can imagine, we have quite a scene here", said Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales, reporting on the seriousness of the incident.
"We are working to find a peaceful solution at this time," he/she added.
Initial confusion and a detained individual with an undefined role
The initial hours of the incident were marked by confusion. One person was detained near the area, although authorities clarified that it is still not confirmed whether this individual is the shooter.
"That person is somehow connected to the scene. We don't know exactly how yet, but at this moment they are with our investigators," Morales explained.
At 8:58 a.m., reporters on the scene heard new gunshots, indicating that the danger persisted and that negotiations had not yet yielded results.
The suspect is known to the police
Around midday, Chief Morales revealed that the authorities know the identity of the suspect, although they have not chosen to disclose it yet.
"We know who it is, but we are not ready to disclose that information for now," he stated.
"We have already been in contact with him in the past," she added without further details.
He also stated that the main objective remains to avoid further violence: “We will take the necessary time and will always act with the principle of preserving the sanctity of life at the highest level.”
Security perimeter and ongoing operation
The affected area was completely cordoned off. Helicopters flew over the region while patrols closed off access, and residents were urged to remain in their homes.
Tactical teams surrounded the house where the suspect is believed to still be holed up.
The incident is still ongoing, and authorities have urged residents in the area to remain calm. The injured officers are out of danger, but the operation continues until the situation is fully resolved.
News in development...
Filed under: