Miami-Dade Cop 'Potentially Saved Some Lives Today'

MIAMI, FL -- Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said Wednesday one of his officers "potentially saved some lives today," when the 17-year veteran encountered a knife-wielding man in the gated residential community of Caribe Lakes and opened fire.

"Unfortunately he had to take someone's life in the process," Perez told reporters at the scene. Miami-Dade police said the officer was responding to a domestic incident at a home in the 3200 block of SW 154th Court in which a woman was killed.

"There was an encounter that was going to turn violent within that residence and the officer deployed his firearm," Perez said.

Detective Argemis Colome said the incident happened around 7:10 a.m. The man who was killed by police allegedly killed his wife. Two children were in the home at the time, but were not injured.

The man who was killed by the officer was identified as 51-year-old Reinaldo Gonzalez. His wife was identified as 49-year-old Marays Morejon, according to Miami-Dade police.

One of the children in the home was a teenager while the other was in their 20s. Colome said one of the children called police.

"The caller stated that their father was killing their mother with a knife," he told Patch.

Perez asked for prayers for his officer.

"We ask that you keep him in prayers as well because he had to face a very traumatic situation today," said Perez.

As in the case of all shootings involving Miami-Dade police officers, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has opened an investigation.

Colome said that a knife has been recovered from the scene.