Manhunt Underway In Northwest Miami-Dade

MIAMI, FL — Plainclothes detectives encountered gunfire late Wednesday in Northwest Miami-Dade County. But it was unclear if the officers were the intended targets of the shooter. Miami-Dade police quickly established a perimeter around the area of the 3000 block of NW 77 Street. Police brought in K-9 units and at least one helicopter.

The gunshots rang out around 9:30 p.m., according to Detective Lee Cowart of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

"They saw the black male. They saw the weapon and they saw that he discharged the weapon," Cowart told Patch. "They immediately went in to apprehend the subject who fled."

Cowart said he did not know whether the man opened fire on the detectives or whether he was firing at someone or something else.

"We established a perimeter which is still in effect and it’s multiple blocks," Cowart told Patch shortly before midnight. "We requested specialty assets — K-9, aviation and our Special Response Team to respond. They are currently canvassing the area for the subject who discharged the firearm."

Cowart added that none of the officers were inured and that no one had been detained as of late Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the department's Northside District, which is not far from the Liberty Square area that has been the scene of increased patrols since two teenagers, including an honor student, were killed and two other people were shot in an April attack that sparked outrage in the community over gun violence.

"Our biggest priority is community safety, officer safety and getting that gun off of the street," Cowart told Patch of Wednesday's incident.

Photo by Paul Scicchitano