Miramar PD: Officers Forced To Shoot, Kill Armed Robbery Suspect
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MIAMI(CBSMiami)--- Two Miramar Police Officers are on paid leave after they were forced to shoot and kill an armed robbery suspect in Miami after an exchange of gunfire.
Police spokeswoman Tania Rues told CBS4's Travell Eiland that Miramar officers had gone to a Miramar home to check on a "be on the look out for" (BOLO) for a suspect who was wanted for an armed robbery of a Western Union business in Miami-Dade.
Rues said while officers were at the home the suspects arrived. She said they took off and officers pursued him.
She said two men lead police on a chase into Miami. They eventually ditched the car near Northwest 67 street and 6th Ave. As they ran away, police say one of the men fired at officers. The cops returned fire and the suspect was shot and killed and another man was taken into custody. Neighbors are upset because they say children were playing in the area an witnessed the shooting.
Rues said the officers had to fire at the suspect in order to defend themselves.
"Unfortunately the suspects fired and there was an exchange of gunfire," she said.
Neither he nor the man taken into custody have been identified. It's not known if that man will face charges at this point.
Rues said the two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
She also said she believed officers followed policy in this case.
Miami Police Major Delrish Moss said that Miami police would be investigating the shooting to see if the officers who killed the suspect violated any laws. Miramar Police are also working an internal investigation to determine if any department policies were broken.
Click here to watch Travell Eiland's report.
"The one thing I can say is that this is an active investigation," said Moss.
The suspect may have thrown some evidence from his car during the pursuit. Chopper 4 was over the Golden Glades interchange as officers were searching for that item.
Neighbors said they were startled by the shooting.
Shantrel Martin said,"I'm nervous. I am scared. I heard 7 to 8 shots. It's scary coming out here. It was frightening. I am also concerned because I heard kids were out here when this was happening."
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