SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A parking garage at Dadeland Mall is back open on Tuesday after a gunman triggered trouble in the area. This happened while some holiday shoppers were still in the mall.
On Monday, just before 9:30 p.m., Miami-Dade Police and South Miami Police responded to Dadeland Mall, located at 7535 North Kendall Drive, in the Kendall area of Southwest Miami-Dade.
Witnesses told 7News they were working in the mall when they heard someone shooting. After they heard around three to four gunshots, they rushed back into their stores.
Once the employees heard the sirens from fire rescue and police, they exited the mall.
Crime scene tape covered the area of the parking garage, near the AC Hotel and Macy’s section of the mall.
Upon arrival, 7News saw officers searching with flashlights on the floor for evidence.
Part of the mall was closed, due to the holidays, but some stores did remain open for a longer period of time.
According to MPDP, an altercation happened in the parking lot between four to five people, which led to the shooting.
“AC Hotel area at Dadeland, at 7535 North Kendall Drive, advising shots fired,” said a dispatcher on Broadcastify police scanner. “This is an adult male with a gunshot to the leg. That’s all we have so far.”
One man was found shot in the leg and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital South in stable condition.
The subjects then fled the scene.
Officers worked with mall security to get a description of the vehicle that the suspects took.
“A BOLO was issued and officers that were in the area of 152 Street and the Turnpike observed that vehicle traveling southbound,” said a dispatcher on Broadcastify police scanner. “They immediately engaged, attempted to stop that vehicle, they refused to stop, and that’s when a chase ensued.”
The police pursuit came to a stop when they were able to find the vehicle after it crashed in the area of Southwest 147th Avenue and 216th Street.
Officers then took two people in the vehicle into custody: an adult male and adult female.
Authorities set up a perimeter in the area to search for possibly two other suspects who may have bailed out of the car and took off running.
A Miami-Dade Police officer said stopping the suspects was possible thanks to holiday security efforts at the mall.
“With these initiatives with the larger malls, we’re able to have that collaborative effort with them,” said detective Alvaro Zabaleta with the MDPD. “They knew what we needed. They were able to provide surveillance and what type of information we needed. With all the information, we were able to BOLO it out and successfully locate this vehicle on the turnpike and 152.”
The man shot in the leg is expected to be OK.
This case remains an active investigation.
If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
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