Police: 2 South Florida officers wounded in shootout, suspect killed
(Courtesy: WSVN)
DORAL, Fla. - Two Florida police officers were wounded Friday morning during a shootout before returning fire and killing the gunman, officials said.
Both Doral police officers were expected to survive, police spokesman Rey Valdes said.
The officers were responding to some dispute between drivers, where one car was chasing the other, officials said. The man being chased was attempting to reach the nearby Miami-Dade Police Department headquarters, which is located along a busy street in Doral.
The chaser lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree, police said. He then exited his vehicle and immediately opened fire on the officers.
One officer was injured in the face by shrapnel or broken glass, and the other was shot in the chest, arm and leg, officials said. The second officer was taken to a Miami trauma center.
"Fortunately, he was wearing a bulletproof vest. The bulletproof vest took the round," Officer Rey Valdes told WSVN.
Police told the station the officer is in serious condition and is surrounded by family.
Also wounded in the shooting was a man riding in panel truck that had no apparent connection to confrontation. Officials didn't immediately know whether that man was hit in the leg by the officers or the gunman.
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Officials didn't immediately identify the names of the officers or dead man.
State law enforcement officials will investigate the shooting.