Police officer involved in Miami library shooting once shot by robbery suspect

Officer Saul Rodriguez, wounded in 2013 shooting, takes down library gunman

MIAMI – A Miami-Dade police officer who shot a gunman Wednesday at a downtown Miami library was once wounded by a suspect's bullet, Local 10 News has learned.

Miami-Dade police on Thursday released the identity of the officer who intervened in Wednesday morning's shooting at the main Miami-Dade Public Library on Flagler Street.

Officer Saul Rodriguez, a 17-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, shot Roderick Veazy, who opened fire in the library, Detective Daniel Ferrin said.

According to an arrest affidavit, Veazy confronted Carl Cooperstein inside the library, pulled out a gun and fired it at him.

Roderick Veazy is accused of opening fire at the main Miami-Dade Public Library in downtown Miami.

Cooperstein, 63, wasn't struck and ran for cover.

Police said Veazy, 64, ran after Cooperstein, but Rodriguez, who was working at the library, intervened, shooting Veazy.

Ferrin said Thursday that Rodriguez is the same officer who was shot by a robbery suspect in 2013.

Rodriguez spent several days in a hospital after a Dec. 10, 2013, confrontation with Adrian Montesano. Montesano, 27, and another suspect, Corsini Valdes, 50, were later killed by police.

Miami-Dade police Officer Saul Rodriguez was shot by a robbery suspect in 2013.

Veazy was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center to be treated for his gunshot wound.

Ferrin said the shooting was not a random act and that Veazy targeted Cooperstein.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

The library remains closed but is scheduled to reopen Friday morning.


About the Author:

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