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Deadly Police Involved Shooting In Miami Gardens

MIAMI GARDENS (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade police were in on scene of a deadly officer involved shooting in Miami Gardens.

It happened in the area of NW 204th Street and 23rd Court.

Miami-Dade Police spokeswoman, Sgt. Erin Alfonso, told CBS4'S Peter D'Oench that members of the Miami-Dade Police homicide task forced went to the home following leads after a man was killed in front of his girlfriend and two children on Sunday in Opa-Locka.

"Investigative leads took us to this neighborhood where officers met the subject who was carrying a rifle and a handgun and a gun battle ensued and the man is now deceased," said Alfonso.

Alfonso said that man was not being identified and police were not able to say if the man who died was responsible for the Opa-Locka shooting on Sunday.

Quenisa Calloway says she witnessed both deadly shootings.

She identified the man who was killed Monday as Ronnie Churches, her boyfriend of four months.

"God is keeping me. He got to be. There's so much that's been happening," Calloway said.

The woman said her boyfriend is responsible for shooting and killing Roberto Cardenas Sunday at a car wash.

Calloway told CBS4 Monday night, Churches pulled out a gun and fired after Cardenas called him weak and said he wouldn't do anything.

Police said seven officers were involved and said they were fired at and had to shoot back in order to protect themselves.

One woman who said she believed she was the cousin of the man who was killed told D'Oench, "I am his cousin and I want to get some answers. I can't say anymore until I get some answers. Those questions about him go to God. I am not going to discredit him and discredit him in the media. I am not going to go there. I just spoke to him last night and when I get some answers I will speak to you. I will."

The shooting happened a few blocks away from the North County K-8 Center and neighbors said they were alarmed.

Marissa Romeo said "I heard pom, Pom, Pom like from two different guns. This was a shock to me. I was really shocked."

Maria Bello said "This is crazy. Absolutely crazy. It is usually quiet here."

Another neighbor Dee Dee Gilli said, "Anytime there is violence like this it is always a concern and this something we are not supposed to have, not ever."

Chopper4 over the scene spotted what looked to be a car on the street in front of a home which appears to have run over a recycling bin. Both the windshield and hood had bullet holes. A rifle was on the nearby sidewalk.

Monday, police were staking out one of Churches last know addresses when, according to Calloway, Churches came out with a rifle strapped to his back and a handgun on his waist.

Calloway doesn't know who shot first. But she said Churches was abusive and prevented her from calling 911 after Sunday's murder.

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