Suspect in officer-involved shooting had previously been arrested by detective

Damian Thompson faces 2 counts of attempted first-degree murder

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ A suspect who was arrested in the shooting of two Miami-Dade police officers had been arrested by one of the undercover detectives earlier in the year, police said.

Damian Thompson, 19, was arrested on two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Detectives Terence White and Charles Wood were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center late Monday night after they were ambushed while conducting surveillance at an apartment complex in the 1900 block of NorthwestĀ 59thĀ Street as part of a multi-agency operation on gang activity,Ā Miami-Dade police said.

The wounded officers were rushed to the hospital in the bed of a pickup truck and were able to limp inside with the help of their colleagues.

Detective RobinĀ PinkardĀ said the undercover officers were ambushed by four armed assailants, who approached the officers' unmarked vehicle and opened fire.

Thompson's mother, Michelle Thompson, told Local 10 News that she knows that her son wasn't involved in the shooting because he was at a recording studio at the time.

"I don't think he did it, but whoever did it ā€“ he's still out there," she said. "I'm not saying he's an innocent child, but at the same time, they didn't have to beat him like that."

White is a 26-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, while Woods is an 11-year veteran.

According to an arrest affidavit, Woods identified Thompson as his shooter from a photographic lineup.

"Investigation revealed that Detective White had previously arrested the defendant earlier this year," the report said.

Woods, who was shot in the leg, has been released from the hospital.

Acting on several tips to Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers, police on Tuesday raided room 328 of the Hyatt Place on LeJeune Road, where Thompson and three other people were staying.

According to the report, Thompson was lying in bed with his hands under his body. Police ordered Thompson to show his hands, but he refused and leaped off the bed while threatening the officers, the report said.

Thompson charged at the officers and was punched several times in an attempt to subdue him, police said. He was eventually subdued and taken into custody.

Three others who were in the room -- Jamal Daniels, 25, Jessica Pierre, 22, and Mikequesha Simmons, 22 -- were also arrested on unrelated charges.

Jamal Daniels, 25, Jessica Pierre, 22, and Mikequesha Simmons, 22, were arrested on unrelated charges.

Police said Daniels rented the room using a fraudulent credit card and let Thompson and the others stay there. He faces charges of credit card fraud, grand theft and defrauding an innkeeper.

Pierre and Simmons were also arrested. Police said Pierre was arrested on an outstanding warrant for not having a valid driver's license, while Simmons was arrested on drug charges after officers found marijuana and XanaxĀ in her wallet.

Police said Tuesday night that a third man in the room, identified as Alexander Stalling, 18, was also arrested on unrelated charges.

Thompson remained jailed Wednesday morning at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.