Florida Officer, Suspect Wounded in Shootout

Jan. 13, 2014
A Miami Gardens police officer is recovering at a hospital after being shot by a suspect Saturday night.

A Miami Gardens police officer is recovering at Ryder Trauma Center Sunday after being wounded in a Saturday night shootout with an armed suspect, who was also hit.

The unidentified officer was taken to Ryder Trauma Center where he was listed in stable condition on Sunday.

"He is in good spirits and recovering," said Miami Gardens Det. Michael Wright of the officer who is in the operations division.

The suspect, identified as Randy Antonio Thomas, 44, was also taken to Ryder. He was in critical condition.

There were no updates Sunday on his condition.

Police said the incident occurred when officers arrived at 2170 NW 183rd St., at about 9:55 p.m. Saturday on a call of several men on a second floor balcony involved in "some sort of altercation."

Thomas, who has long criminal history ranging from aggravated battery to possession of a firearm, took off along Northwest 183rd Street and when an officer tried to stop him "there was an exchange of gunfire," police said in a news release.

"There are multiple shell casings and we are still trying to determine whose gun they came from," said Wright.

For now, Thomas has been charged attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The investigation continues.

Copyright 2014 - The Miami Herald

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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