A domestic disturbance call in a usually quiet Sweetwater neighborhood ended in fatal gunfire Wednesday evening, when police shot and killed a knife-wielding man and sent his pregnant wife to the hospital, city officials said.
The incident unfolded in the 11600 block of Southwest 7th Terrace, where officers confronted a man in his 30s and opened fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, who is about five months pregnant, was taken to a hospital with bruising for evaluation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or FDLE, has taken over the investigation, and agents worked the scene late into the night.
According to WPLG Local 10, officers were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. to 11607 SW 7th Terrace after 911 calls reporting a domestic altercation between a married couple. Sweetwater police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta told the station that officers encountered “a male armed with a knife,” and authorities say a confrontation followed. Police say the man was hit by gunfire and died on scene.
Officials described him as about 30 years old but have not released his name. They also have not released the name of the woman, who was transported for medical checks after the incident. Neighbors said the burst of violence was jarring in a typically calm block. “I heard like six shots, bow, bow, bow!” one resident told CBS Miami. Local coverage also reported that state agents from FDLE are handling the criminal investigation.
FDLE investigation and review
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has assumed control of the criminal probe, a standard move in officer-involved shootings that are likely to draw public scrutiny. Investigators are expected to collect physical evidence, review any available video and interview the officers and witnesses.
FDLE records show the agency often takes the lead in high-profile officer-involved shootings in order to build an independent criminal case file. Once FDLE finishes its work, the findings are typically turned over to prosecutors. The case is then reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office to determine whether criminal charges are warranted, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
What investigators still haven't released
Authorities have not yet identified the Sweetwater officers who fired their weapons, released body-worn camera footage or publicly named the man who was killed. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s homicide detectives were reported to be assisting at the scene, and FDLE agents remained there into the night, WSVN reported. A regional news aggregator also picked up part of the televised coverage, with Spot On Florida posting an excerpt of the WPLG video of the scene.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support after an incident, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or via the National Domestic Violence Hotline online. This story will be updated as FDLE and local officials release additional details.
