Miami-Dade police officer shoots teen driver in stolen car

Police say car had been reported stolen in carjacking

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a shooting involving a Miami-Dade police officer.

Miami-Dade police said it started after a carjacking early Sunday morning at Northwest 79th Street and Northwest 31st Avenue. The suspect got away in a white Mazda sedan.

Police issued a bulletin for the car, and at about 5 p.m., an officer saw a car matching that description and tried to pull over the driver. 

The driver refused to stop and led police on a short pursuit for several blocks. The driver attempted to turn but lost control of the car, which struck a business on the corner.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said there was a confrontation between the suspect and police, prompting the officer to open fire.

The suspect was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where he was undergoing surgery. Police believe the suspect is a teenager.

"Our officers, when they are confronted with such a threat, they're trained to address the threat, without knowing if they're 15, 16 or if they're actually an adult," Zabaleta said.

The officer was not hurt.

Neither the suspect or officer's identity have been released, but police said the officer is a 12-year veteran.

Police said they also have reason to believe that the same Mazda and suspect may have been involved in two other robberies Sunday afternoon.

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About the Author

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

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