MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A fatal police shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon in southwest Miami-Dade stemmed from a dispute over a stolen vehicle, authorities confirmed in a news release Thursday.
According to Miami-Dade police, a man called 911 Wednesday to report that he was involved in a dispute with another person at a property at 18200 SW 192nd St. where he believed his stolen vehicle was located.
The victim told police that he fled the area after the confrontation became violent and then called 911.
According to authorities, detectives from the police department’s Illegal Dumping Unit were in the area and responded to the location around 3 p.m. to investigate.
Police said upon arrival, the detectives spotted a vehicle that matched the description provided by the victim and activated their emergency equipment.
As they tried to make contact with the suspect, a confrontation ensued and shots were fired, authorities said.
“As the officers were simply trying to get off to be able to make contact with him, that’s when the subject armed himself with a firearm, produced a firearm, and that’s when shots were fired,” Miami-Dade police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said.
Sky 10 was above the scene as the detectives’ pickup truck was blocked off with crime scene tape. Its front windshield was riddled with bullets.
“Just by looking at that windshield, you know, it’s an eye opener -- it’s hair raising,” Zabaleta said.
Multiple sources told Local 10 News that the man who was pronounced dead at the scene was identified as 59-year-old Osvaldo Cueli.
Neighbors told Local 10 News the man who was killed lived in the area where the shooting took place. They said he had no violent history and the incident could have been a misunderstanding.
Police said a gun was recovered at the scene as evidence.
Police said two detectives were involved in the shooting – a 25-year veteran of the police department and a 24-year veteran. The detectives were not injured in the shooting.
On Thursday, police said Cueli’s wife been detained for questioning, however it’s unclear whether she will face charges.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.