A routine day on the job turned violent Tuesday afternoon when a Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department employee was shot and critically injured during an altercation in a North Miami-Dade neighborhood. The gunfire erupted just after 4:15 p.m. on March 17 at 444 NW 84th Street, and the worker was rushed to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. By Tuesday night, deputies were still at the scene, and no arrests had been announced.
What Investigators Say
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, deputies responded to the area of 444 NW 84th Street and encountered an altercation between two men in which one pulled out a gun and shot the county worker, as reported by WSVN. In a statement to 7News, a Water and Sewer Department spokesperson said they “are aware of the incident and are concerned about the condition and well-being of our employee.”
Victim Treated at Ryder Trauma Center
The injured worker was transported to Jackson Memorial’s Ryder Trauma Center, the county’s Level I trauma center that handles the region’s most critical injuries and emergency surgical interventions, according to Ryder Trauma Center. Ryder is one of the busiest Level I trauma centers in South Florida and provides resuscitation and intensive care for severely injured patients.
Investigation and Tips
Authorities said they had no one in custody as detectives processed the scene, with the victim’s county vehicle still parked at the address, as reported by WSVN. Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 for information, and anyone with tips is urged to call 305-471-TIPS.
Why It Matters Locally
Miami-Dade’s Water and Sewer Department maintains more than 8,500 miles of underground water lines and about 4,100 miles of sewer lines, serving roughly 2.4 million residents, according to the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. With such a sprawling system, field crews are constantly out on public streets and neighborhood worksites, and county officials say they are especially concerned about the well-being of the worker caught in this shooting.
