Palmetto Bay Officer Shooting: Man Charged With Attempted Murder

PALMETTO BAY, FL — One of three men detained by police following Tuesday's shooting of an off-duty Doral police veteran outside his Palmetto Bay home was charged with attempted second-degree murder and other offenses less than 24 hours after the incident. Twenty-two-year-old Kionne Bell is also facing charges in connection with a similar robbery outside a Southwest Miami-Dade County that occurred earlier this month. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade police said they are still searching for Bell's alleged accomplice in the shooting of Lt. Gary King.

The 70-year-0ld King, who has served on three Miami-Dade police departments, is expected to make a full recovery after being shot in the arm. He wife suffered minor injuries in the attack as the couple was returning home from a trip to Home Depot and Outback shortly before 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

"The subjects and the victims were involved in a struggle, at which point a firearm was discharged, resulting in Mr. King being shot in the arm," according to Det. Robin Pinkard of the Miami-Dade Police Department, who said that the bandits escaped in a red four-door Toyota Corolla. They took the officer's firearm and other items, including a Rolex watch belonging to King's wife. King was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital South.

"As investigators continued to follow all leads, they located the subject vehicle in the area of SW 186 Street and SW 112 Avenue," according to Pinkard. "In addition, three adult subjects were detained for questioning to determine their involvement."

Bell was also charged with armed robbery, aggravated battery on person 65 years or older and armed burglary. The earlier robbery occurred on Jan. 9 in the front yard of a home in the 20700 block of SW 117 Court.

That case bore similarities to the attack on King. Bell allegedly struck the homeowner in the back of the head while his alleged accomplice doused him with pepper spray.

Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez told reporters that King suspected he was being followed.

"We know that he was being followed because he actually observed a vehicle that he felt was kind of suspicious behind him," Perez explained. "When he felt comfortable that they were not there any longer they exited the vehicle."

Court documents said that police were able to spot the red Corolla at both the Home Depot and Outback around the time that King and his wife were there.

Photo courtesy Miami-Dade Police Department