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Arrest Made After Off-Duty Doral Officer Shot During Robbery

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An arrest was made Wednesday after an off-duty Doral Police officer was shot the previous night.

Kionne Bell MUG
Kionne Bell mugshot (Source: Miami-Dade Corrections)

Miami-Dade Police brought 22-year-old Kionne Bell to the Turner Gilford Knight Correctional Center following a search and detainment of three individuals.

Police say Bell is a convicted felon. He's now being charged with attempted second degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older and armed burglary.

A second subject remains at large.

Lieutenant Gary King, 70, was returning to his Palmetto Bay home around 10 p.m. Tuesday night with his family when he was confronted by several armed individuals in the driveway.

Miami-Dade police Director Juan Perez said King was followed and ambushed.

King was shot in the arm during the robbery. It is unclear if the shot came from a robber's weapon or if he was shot with his own gun - which they took.

"The individuals are armed. These individuals have at least, at minimum, they have the officer's gun. So they are very dangerous individuals," said Perez.

King was taken to Jackson South Medical Center where he underwent surgery.

As word of the shooting spread and police flooded the neighborhood.

Lieutenant Gary King
Lieutenant Gary King. (Source: City of Doral)

"Helicopters all night long, all night long overhead," said Dalai Maya. "It was like wall to wall police officers."

Maya said the chaos kept her up most of the night and after learning a police officer was shot, she now wonders about her own safety.

"If they can do that, what about your ordinary citizen just walking around," she said.

"It goes to show how dangerous Miami-Dade County is and has become. The police officer acted instinctively, his training kicked in and because of that it saved his life and any further injury," said police union spokesman John Rivera.

Wednesday morning, Miami-Dade and Doral police gave an update on King as well as their concerns.

"Gary is going to be okay. He went through a long night and a long surgery. It's the awareness of this situation that we need to take note of. It can happen anywhere, any day of the week, 365 days a year," said Doral Police Chief Don de Lucca.

King started his career in law enforcement in 1969 with the City of Miami police department. He later joined the Miami-Dade police department.

Throughout his extensive career in law-enforcement, he served as a patrol officer, robbery investigator, and homicide bureau sergeant.

De Lucca said in addition to being veteran of law enforcement King was a mentor to many on the Doral force.

"Gary is like the voice of reason. He truly cares, he's compassionate, he loves the profession, and he's like an older brother to so many of us," he said.

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