1 dead in police-involved shooting

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Authorities are investigating a police-involved shooting that left one man dead overnight.

Miami-Dade Police say they were serving an arrest warrant for an aggravated stalking charge at a home along Southwest 79th Avenue and 34th Terrace, at around 8 p.m. Monday night. However, a confrontation between police and the suspect, later identified as Henry Patterson, ended in gunfire.

Upset family members returned to the home late Tuesday morning after detectives cleared the scene at about 4 a.m. The family offered little comment, but when asked if they thought police may have gone to far, the deceased's ex-wife said, "Probably."

According to authorities, Patterson pointed a gun at the officers and at least one detective fired shots and killed him. Miami-Dade Police Detective Roy Rutland said, "These detectives did, in fact, have probable cause to arrest this man for aggravated stalking. When they arrived at the residence, there was a confrontation near the front door of the residence, and we know at least one of our detectives shot and killed this man right near his front door."

Some neighbors also said the man threatened officers just before they pulled their guns on him. "He came out with a gun, and they opened fire," said neighbor Daniel Fernandez.

Mary Ann Wallace was inside her home when the shooting occurred. "I was on the computer back in my Florida room, and all of a sudden, I heard bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, and I thought, Oh, my gosh, what is that? So I went looking around, because I was thinking, 'Is there something trying to get inside my house?'" she said. "Then I came out looking, but I couldn't see anything, and then after that, I heard the helicopter, the police cars and everything coming."

Neighbors said police had been to Patterson's home several times before. Luis Lopez said, "A year ago, cops surrounded the house once. That was it."

Police verified that they have indeed visited the residence in the past. "We do know we have had incidents before with this same man," Rutland said.

"I really don't know too much about him," said Fernandez. "I know that cops were here before on that property, and they did come to make an arrest, and [a shooting] didn't happen, but this time, it got more serious."

Wallace said she has lived in the area for years and hopes she never has this experience again. "Normally, it's a quiet neighborhood, people have been here for quite awhile," she said. "I hope I never have to hear this again."

Fernandez said he has never seen anything like this since he's been living here. "Living here for all these years, living in this neighborhood, I've never seen something crazy like that," he said.

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