A shootout between Miami police and a man in a residential neighborhood near the Miami River ended with the man’s death, officials said. Before the shootout, residents reported the man was randomly firing a gun.
At about 12:45 p.m., multiple 911 calls were made about a man shooting into the air and at buildings near Southwest Fifth Street and Fourth Avenue, according to Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales.
When officers arrived, they exchanged gunfire with the man, who was not identified and was declared dead at the scene.
No other injuries were reported. Miami Fire Rescue responded but did not transport anyone to the hospital.
“We’re still investigating the motive behind this incident,” Morales said, adding that the man likely lived in the area.
While there is no ongoing threat, police advised residents to avoid the area as the investigation continues. The scene was filled with police cars and crime scene vans blocking the roads.
Nancy Montero, a resident, was shocked by the shootout in her usually peaceful neighborhood. She initially thought it was a typical family argument.
“I was shocked…I went downstairs and saw a body covered by a white blanket,” she said.
Yunior González, who has lived in the area for only four months, was heading home when he noticed the heavy police presence. He later saw bullet holes in one of the buildings where he lived.
“I called my aunt to make sure everyone was safe, and luckily, no one was home,” González said. “The patio where we sit every evening was damaged and hit.”