Man Kills Dog, Injures Man & Woman in Shooting Spree in Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens
Two people were injured and a dog was killed during a shooting spree that spanned across two South Florida cities Thursday and ended with the suspected gunman shot by police officers, officials said.
The alleged gunman, a 31-year-old man, first shot and killed a dog inside his home in Hialeah Gardens shortly after 3:30 p.m., officials said.
The suspect then fled to Hialeah where he shot a 54-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman in the 5800 block of W. 20th Lane, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department.
At least 18 evidence markers covered the street following the shooting, police said.
The victims were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital Trauma Center where they were in stable condition.
When the suspect returned to his home in Hialeah Gardens, he encountered responding police officers and opened fire at NW 121st Terrace and NW 90th Avenue, officials said.
Two officers returned fire, hitting the suspect, who was taken into custody and transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center.
“This is something that it could have been more tragic, we could have had two individuals dead in Hialeah,” Miami-Dade Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said. “We could have had an officer dead here on the scene.”
The motive behind the shootings, or any connection with the victims in Hialeah, remains unknown.
Authorities are investigating.
