Surveillance Video Shows Altercation Before Police Shootout
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Gunfire erupted in a Miami-Dade neighborhood during the police pursuit of two robbery suspects.
According to police, two men were inside the Yellow Meat Market at 1005 NW 79th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade Wednesday, when two other men came in to confront them.
All four men were armed, some waiving around guns, while customers walked in and out.
And in the end--after one opened fire on police officers with an assault rifle--all four men involved are facing charges.
CBS4's Natalia Zea obtained surveillance video which shows two men, armed with a stolen handgun and an assault rifle robbing two other men in the cooler aisle of the convenience store.
CLICK HERE To Watch Lauren Pastrana's Report
And that was just the beginning of the violence.
In the video you can see one man- who police say was also armed- has his hands up as they exchange words.
After a lot of back and forth some of the men run out, one with the rifle.
In the meantime, Bienvenido Valera is searching for something in the food racks. Police say he was looking for a stolen gun, that was stashed in the racks of potato chips.
A short time later a police officer- walks up alone- and ends up tousling with one of the men, who won't stop trying to get away even while the officer points a gun at him close range. A plainclothes officer runs up to help.
Still that suspect manages to break free, and takes off running.
Police end up arresting Valera and Antonio Jones in the store.
The violence then continues with a high speed chase police say they went after Theodist Grimes and Wendell Clark.
"When the police was chasing them we had run in the house because we seen them and after that we heard about six or seven gunshots," said witness Elrod Philips.
Thankfully no one was hit by a bullet...but the suspects then rammed their Ford Fusion into this pickup truck, with several people inside.
Police say Grimes and Clark then took off on foot- only to be caught a short time later. The gun was recovered in a nearby trash can.
Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association President saw the surveillance video of the armed robbery that sparked the chase and subsequent shooting.
"This is scary stuff," he told CBS4's Lauren Pastrana. "I'm kind of glad that the public gets to see what happens on the streets of Miami-Dade County."
Rivera added he believe the officer who tried to stop the suspects did "an exceptional job."
"I think most police officers today are frightened to act," he said.
Grimes is charged with attempted murder on a law enforcement and a slew of other felonies. His girlfriend showed up on his behalf promising to pay for a lawyer.
Clark is facing lesser charges and already bonded out of jail.
Valera and Jones were arrested police say because they are convicted felons who should not have had firearms.
"The question is why are the still on the streets?" Rivera asked. "Where did the system fail that we have to live amongst these animals?"
In bond court, Valera said he was the victim.
Jones posted bond and left jail late Thursday.
And in the end, despite gun pointing, robbery, a high speed police chase, and an all out gunfight in a residential neighborhood no one was severely hurt.