During an undercover narcotics operation in Miami on Wednesday, a police officer was shot in the head area while conducting a traffic stop, marking the fourth instance of Miami-Dade officers being struck by gunfire in the past seven months. The officer, who was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, remained conscious and was expected to survive, according to police. However, the passenger in the vehicle, who police say was the shooter, fled on foot and was still at large as of Wednesday night.
An undercover narcotics operation in Miami took a dark turn when a police officer was shot in the head during a traffic stop on Wednesday. The officer was expected to survive and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, while the shooter, a passenger in the car, fled the scene on foot and was still at large as of Wednesday night.
The incident occurred near Northwest Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street during rush hour, causing police to cordon off the area. The driver was taken into custody, but the shooter remains at large.
While conducting a narcotics investigation, one of my detectives was cowardly ambushed and shot from behind by a subject that is still at large. This is the fourth time I am at the hospital after an officer is attacked, I am tired of it. These attacks will not be tolerated.
— Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@AFreddyRamirez) March 8, 2023
Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez took to Twitter to condemn the attack, stating, “While conducting a narcotics investigation, one of my detectives was cowardly ambushed and shot from behind by a subject that is still at large. This is the fourth time I am at the hospital after an officer is attacked, I am tired of it. These attacks will not be tolerated.”
TRAFFIC ALERT: Due to a police investigation with @MiamiDadePD we have closed NW 2-6 Avenues from NW 39-46 Streets. No pedestrian or vehicle traffic is being allowed within this area. Please avoid this area. pic.twitter.com/oBFJ56gExu
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) March 8, 2023
Ramirez emphasized that anyone caught harboring the suspected shooter would face the full consequences of the law. He noted that the injured officer was an 18-year veteran and that the bullet did not penetrate his skull. The suspect was described as wearing a tanned shirt and having a medium build. In response to the shooting, police blocked off streets in the area and conducted a neighborhood sweep in search of the shooter.
“This is when the community needs to step up as they always do. If he did it to us, he could do it to you.”
During a press conference at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where doctors were treating the injured officer, Ramirez urged the community to help in identifying the shooter, saying, “This is when the community needs to step up as they always do. If he did it to us, he could do it to you.” Ramirez expressed frustration that this was the fourth time he had to visit the hospital after an officer was attacked and stated that such attacks would not be tolerated.
