Subject fatally shot at local flea market

NORTHEAST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida flea market was the scene of deadly shooting Sunday. Police said they were forced to fire.

"I just heard shots," said Dave James. "About 10 to 15 shots. It was a lot of shots."

Bullets blasted a gold mini van Sunday afternoon shattering the back windshield. "Someone tried to fire shots at the police," said James. "So the police fired shots at them." Police struck and killed the man in the drivers seat. "I don't know what happened prior to that," said James. "But I know police shot the guys inside the truck."

That was after Miami-Dade Police said a victim of a home invasion robbery nearby in Northwest Miami-Dade pointed police in the direction of a Flea Market parking lot at Northwest 79th Street and 30th Avenue. They followed the gold mini van. Police were practically on scene when they got the call.

"Two officers exited their vehicles," said Lieutenant Rosanna Cordero-Stutz. "They ordered the subjects out of the car at which point the subjects in the mini can put it in reverse and rammed one of the officer's vehicles." That's when police took the cue and started shooting. Once officer in uniform, the other a plain clothed detective. "They then put it in drive," said Cordero-Stuz, "and rammed several cars forward where they came to stop in the next parking isle."

"I heard like 18 or 17 shots in the air," said Dagoberto Nuze. "And I said, 'what the hell?', I was in my backyard."

One of those bullets killed the driver right then and there. "I just seen everybody running towards this way," said James. Paramedics rushed the driver of the mini van to Ryder Trauma Center and he went right into surgery. Police locked down the massive Flea Market parking lot and kept witnesses inside.

Police said their officers weren't hurt and no bullets struck any of the dozen of innocent bystanders in the area. "A lot of kids and families come out here," said James. "It's sad. On a Sunday. In broad daylight. They don't care anymore."

Police are trying to collect as much evidence as possible to figure what went wrong. They have not released any information on the condition of the other person who was shot in the parking lot.

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