4 dead after police pursuit ends in gunfire in Miramar after armed robbery

UPS driver, innocent bystander among those killed in shootout

Police surround a UPS truck after a pursuit ends in gunfire. (WPLG)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. ā€“ Four people were killed Thursday after a multi-county police pursuit ended in gunfire on Miramar Parkway following an armed robbery in Coral Gables.

The pursuit ended in a hail of bullets on live television as police fired into the stolen UPS truck, which was taken, along with the driver, during the robbery more than 25 miles away. The firefight occurred after the truck was slowed by traffic and surrounded by police.

Soon after the truck stopped, police opened fire into the vehicle with the suspects and UPS driver inside.

AS IT HAPPENED: Chilling video shows end of deadly shootout from driver across the street

A man could be seen attempting to exit the truck on the passengerā€™s side during the gunfire, but itā€™s not known whether he was the UPS employee or one of the suspects.

An FBI spokesman said the two armed suspects attempted to rob Regent Jewelers at 1261 Mariana Ave., near the intersection of Miracle Mile and LeJeune Road.

GRAPHIC VIDEO: The video below is graphic and may be inappropriate for some

The owner of the store exchanged gunfire with the suspects. A woman inside the store was shot in the head during the shooting and was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

ā€œThis is what dangerous people do to get away,ā€ Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak said. ā€œAnd this is what people will do to avoid capture.ā€

A bullet hit a window at City Hall, which was locked down, Hudak said. No one inside City Hall was believed to be injured, Hudak said.

Hudak said officers responded within 90 seconds, including one officer who was involved in a nearby traffic stop. It was not immediately clear if anything from the jewelry store was taken, Hudak said.

After the jewelry store shooting, the suspects fled in the UPS truck, leading police north on Floridaā€™s Turnpike to Interstate 75 before getting off near Century Village in Pembroke Pines and then heading to the Miramar area.

Hours after the chase ended, medical gauze, wrappers and other debris remained strewn across the Miramar roadwayā€™s middle lane next to the UPS truck, which still had its right rear door open. Traffic remained snarled, and it was not clear how long it would take investigators to clear the scene.

UPS spokesman David Graves said they are staying in touch with authorities. He didnā€™t share any information about the driver.


About the Authors:

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School,Ā Homestead Senior HighĀ School and graduated from St. Thomas University.

Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta, San Diego, Orlando and Panama City Beach.