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A routine traffic stop in Miami Gardens escalated into a violent scene of chaos and uncertainty when a driver allegedly attempted to run over several police officers, triggering gunfire and an intense manhunt.
The suspect managed to flee, but his vehicle was found abandoned shortly afterwards in a residential area, while the authorities maintained a large presence in the area.
The sequence of chaos: Attempted run-over and gunfire
According to local reports, the incident began around 4:00 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, when Miami Gardens police officers were conducting a radar speed enforcement operation near the intersection of Northwest 159th Street and 22nd Avenue.
It was then that they tried to stop a vehicle, whose driver responded by speeding away violently.
"The man accelerated and nearly ran over the first officers, who had to jump to avoid being struck," noted Telemundo 51, citing the authorities.
The situation escalated quickly when the car, instead of stopping, headed straight toward another officer.
In the face of the imminent threat, one of the officers fired.
The police chief of Miami Gardens, Delma Noel-Pratt, explained that "the suspect hit the accelerator and nearly passed by an officer, who was forced to move and headed directly towards a second officer."
This second agent, unable to move away in time, fired in self-defense, although it is unknown if the driver was injured.
Escape and discovery of the vehicle
Despite the gunfire, the driver managed to escape the scene.
Minutes later, his car was found abandoned in a residential area less than five minutes from the initial site, specifically near Northwest 151st Street and Railroad Drive.
A neighbor told NBC Miami that she was at home when she noticed the commotion.
"I heard helicopters, then I went outside and saw a bunch of police cars," he described.
Residents of the area told WSVN that they heard between three and four gunshots.
"It seemed very close," said a female resident, adding that when she went outside, "there were a lot of police out there."
Ongoing investigation and police deployment
As indicated by the protocol in these cases, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) took over the investigation due to the involvement of an officer in the shooting.
Forensic experts examined the abandoned vehicle for fingerprints or DNA remnants that could help identify the suspect.
The area remained under intensive surveillance for several hours, and some sections of Avenida 22 were closed while search operations were carried out.
So far, it has not been confirmed whether the individual was armed or if there is any evidence that he was hit by the gunfire.
No arrests have been made either.
The police have requested the community's assistance in locating the fugitive suspect.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or saw someone running near Railroad Drive can contact the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers anonymously at 305-471-TIPS.
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