Officer opens fire at man who ran from crash, pointed gun, police say

Police unsure if man struck by bullet

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police are investigating after an officer opened fire on a man early Friday in Kendall.

Miami-Dade police said the incident took place near Southwest 76th Avenue and Southwest 80th Street, next to the northbound side of the Palmetto Expressway.

Police said two officers from the department's Kendall District pulled over a speeding Toyota Camry on U.S. Highway 1, just south of 80th Street.

The driver was ordered to pull into a shopping plaza when he fled from the officers, police said.

The officer lost sight of the car, but found it after the driver crashed into a chain-linked fence.

Police said the driver bailed out of the car and ran across the westbound lanes of the Palmetto Expressway.

At some point, the man pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers, prompting one of them to open fire, police said.

The officers weren't hurt. Police said they don't know whether the man was struck.

Police spent hours searching for the man with the help of aviation and K-9 units, but he hasn't been found.

Luis Sanchez, who lives in the area, said he saw the helicopters.

"Of course it concerns us," Sanchez said. "You never know what's going to happen."

Sanchez plans to round up his own "posse," just in case, while authorities continue to search for the driver.

"Yeah, well I have a couple of friends -- Smith and Wesson," he said.

Police said one of the officers involved in the incident has been with the Miami-Dade Police Department for one year and the other has been on the force for four years.

Anyone with information about the driver's identity is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.


About the Authors:

Layron Livingston made the move from Ohio's Miami Valley to Miami, Florida, to join the Local 10 News team.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.