Suspect killed in shootout with Miami Gardens police, amid string of targeted shootings – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (WSVN) – One suspect was killed and three others were taken into custody following a shootout with police in Miami Gardens Thursday night, the latest in a series of violent incidents in the area.

The altercation occurred shortly before 11 p.m. near 61st Street and Northwest 27th Place when officers from the Miami Gardens Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) responded to reports of shots fired. When they arrived, officers were confronted with gunfire from suspects and returned fire.

“We do not take this lightly. If people are bold enough to shoot at our officers and commit violent crimes here, they will be punished accordingly,” said Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt, who spoke to the media after the incident.

According to Police Chief Noel-Pratt, one suspect in the shooting was killed at the scene and three others were arrested. No police officers were injured.

Due to the recent increase in violent incidents in the area, the ATF was on site.

“We stand by our partners at the state and local level in the fight against violent crime,” said Christopher A. Robinson, special agent in charge of the ATF Miami Field Division. “We will assist them as best we can with the resources at our disposal. We will also help them determine where the firearms came from.”

This shooting follows a series of targeted attacks that have rocked the Miami Gardens community in recent weeks. Despite assurances from Mayor Rodney Harris that the city is safe and that these incidents are related to known gang violence, residents remain on edge.

“We believe these incidents are targeted acts related to known gang activity in Miami-Dade County. These are not random acts of violence,” Harris said earlier this month.

While the investigation continues, city officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and work with law enforcement to put an end to the violence.

Stay tuned for more details on this breaking story on WSVN.com and 7News.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.