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Somber Scene At Hospital Where Officer Died

MIAMI (CBS4) -- When two Miami-Dade police officers were shot in the line of duty Thursday morning, other officers gathered with friends and family at Jackson Memorial Hospital hoping for a miracle. Unfortunately, it did not come.

The female officer, rushed to the Ryder Trauma Center with multiple gunshot wounds, died in the operating room, according to Lt. Rosanna Cordero-Stutz of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

When the critically injured officer arrived at the hospital, she was hidden from the media by a giant white sheet as she was wheeled from the ambulance into the ER. She was rushed right into surgery, say police, but died shortly before 1:00 p.m. in the operating room.

"This is part of what police officers face every day, not only here in Miami-Dade but across the country. We are people too," said an emotional Cordero-Stutz, while talking to reporters outside of the hospital.

Emotionally distraught family members arrived at the hospital and were consoled by officers.

Her partner was killed on the scene; his body remained under a tarp for several hours after the shootout, which took place around 11:00 a.m. at a home on NW 6th Court and 69th Street.

A third officer suffered a minor injury and was treated at JMH, said Cordero-Stutz.

The officers were not immediately identified.

They were killed in a shootout as a task force of law enforcement officers served a homicide warrant.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said the squad of Miami-Dade police officers is part of the career criminal unit of the warrants division.

"This unit is very well-trained, very well-armed, and highly protects itself," said Alvarez, a former police officer. "So they know what they're doing. It was just a tragic incident that we see here too often in Miami-Dade, of a violent suspect who could care less."

One suspect was killed in the gun battle. Another suspect is in custody, said Alvarez. Investigators say they're not looking for any other suspects.

Barry Golden, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service in South Florida, said the two officers who were shot were working with a Marshals fugitive task force. The task force works to arrest people wanted for crimes from all over the country.

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