Hialeah Detective Fires On Burglary Suspects Trying To Escape
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MIAMI SPRINGS (CBSMiami) -- Hialeah Police say one of their detectives was forced to fire at two men who had just burglarized a Miami Springs home.
Police said the men were casing homes in Hialeah but then the men made their way into Miami Springs where the two burglarized a home off NW 67th Avenue and Heron Avenue.
"Undercover Hialeah detectives were following two suspects we believe break into homes in Hialeah," said Carl Zogby with the Hialeah Police Dept.
At some point, Hialeah police, said a detective was forced to fire in self-defense.
"We're looking at them. We call Miami Springs Police. We advise them what's going on. They rush to the scene and in the meantime, these two suspects jump into their car and try to flee," said Zogby. "While they're fleeing, they almost run over one of our Hialeah detectives. He shoots at the car in self-defense."
Officers said even though the burglars were both hit, they fled the scene and police followed in hot pursuit. The men were eventually caught at NW 36th Street and 66th Avenue.
Chopper4 was over the scene where detectives could be seen near a white car riddled with bullet holes.
Detectives told CBS4's Oralia Ortega the two men were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
At last check, westbound traffic was closed down at NW 36th Street and 66th Avenue as police conducted their investigation prompting some major traffic tie-ups in the area.
Residents coming home were surprised to see such a heavy police presence in such a quiet neighborhood.
"A little nerve-wracking to know it's so close to home in a nice neighborhood but again where are you going to go," said one neighbor.
Police had not released the names of the suspects but say they are facing a number of charges.
The shooting also happened right by a school where summer camp was in session. Officials at the school told Ortega they immediately locked down the school. At last check, about 20 elementary school-aged children remained in lockdown mode.
