2 People Arrested in Miami-Dade Officer-Involved Shooting
The shooting of an undercover Miami-Dade police officer on Monday in Miami Gardens has led to the arrest of two men, the police said Tuesday.
A written statement from the police says that Travis A. Fernandez Jr., of Miramar, and Drequan Humes, both 19, have been charged with trying to kill a police officer with a dangerous weapon in the second degree. Humes is also being charged with having a gun.
Both of them went to bond court on Tuesday afternoon, but they will have to go back because their families got private lawyers.
Peter D’Oench of CBS News Miami spoke with Steadman Stahl, President of the South Florida PBA. Stahl said,
“We are here 3 days before Thanksgiving and the next thing you know the officers find themselves facing gunfire in the middle of the street. This is something you see out of a Hollywood movie. These things should not be happening on the streets. People should value life.”
“The message is that there is still at least one more person out there and he should turn himself in. We are coming. And to the bad guys out there when you start pointing your guns at police our officers will come back at you.”
Five people were first held by police before Fernandez and Humes were arrested. Investigators have said, though, that more arrests could be made as the investigation into the shooting builds.
News 9 Miami also got video from a doorbell camera at the scene, which showed people jumping over a fence and walking with their hands in the air, as well as sounds of shots being fired.
The officer, who had been with the company for seven years, got hurt slightly during the event. Police say he was treated at Ryder Trauma Center and then sent home. Stahl said that the police officer was married, has a child, and had several stitches put in his face at the hospital.
CBS News Miami Tweeted: 2 men arrested in shooting of undercover Miami-Dade police officer in Miami Gardens
2 men arrested in shooting of undercover Miami-Dade police officer in Miami Gardens.https://t.co/TykLjLgKs1
— CBS News Miami (@CBSMiami) November 21, 2023
Five people were first held by police before Fernandez and Humes were arrested. Investigators have said, though, that more arrests could be made as the investigation into the shooting builds.
The officer, who had been with the company for seven years, got hurt slightly during the event. Police say he was treated at Ryder Trauma Center and then sent home.
Around 10:30 in the morning, there was a shooting in Miami Gardens near NW 18th Avenue and NW 154th Street.
Authorities in Miami-Dade County said the unidentified cop was working a detail in Miami Gardens when the shooting happened. He is from the Northwest District and was doing monitoring with a team that works to stop crime.
The Miami Herald, a news outlet that works with CBS News Miami, said that the team was keeping an eye on a house that might have been linked to a shooting over the weekend. When cops followed a car that left the house, someone inside the car opened fire.
Police said the officer was hit in the face by a bullet that bounced off his bullet defense gear.
“If there are subjects out there who believe they can open fire on law enforcement officers, we know that they will not have an issue firing on citizens. I want the community to know that we will not tolerate firing on officers. I am going to provide whatever resources there to make sure that we protect them as well as the citizens of Miami-Dade County,” said police Director Stephanie V. Daniels on Monday at a press conference.
Daniels said that five people were being held by police, but as of Tuesday, only two had been caught and charged. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who was also present at the press conference, stated,
“Thank God he is well and returning home, but our officers are out there in the line of fire on our behalf each and every day, so we stand with them, we pray for them, and we just want people to realize what they are doing on our behalf.”
Daniels didn’t say who the hurt cop was, but he did say he is 29 years old and has been with the department for seven years.
“This law enforcement officer is a real hero here and he comes from a law enforcement family… and he is in good spirits and staying strong and we are very grateful to him,” said Cava.
Two or three blocks were blocked off while police with guns drawn looked for the shooter after the killing. The suspects were being looked for by police from Miami Gardens, Miami-Dade, and Opa-locka.
Pastor Kerby Telcy, who saw the police work, said, “This was the biggest crime scene I have ever seen in my life…it was enormous,”
Rainbow Park Elementary was locked down to protect any teachers or workers who may have been inside, even though there is no school this week.
