Miami Beach Police Identify Officer Who Shot Bowie Woman

MIAMI BEACH, FL — Miami Beach police identified the officer who shot and killed a a 22-year-old Temple University student on Sunday as Officer Michael Angulo. The officer joined the force in November 2012 and has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation into this week's shooting.

Video posted on social media shows Angulo firing three shots at Cariann Denise Hithon, of Bowie, as she sped away in a black BMW after catapulting Miami Beach Officer David Cajuso into the air. The injured officer lost consciousness for a time. Hithon later died of her injuries.

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Internal affairs records released by the Miami Beach Police Department on Thursday show that Angulo was involved in seven incidents where force was used, including incidents in April and May of this year.

Officer Angulo also received a commendation in February, according to police records.

See also: Miami Beach Officer Catapulted By Speeding BMW, Driver Shot

Those who knew Hithon painted a very different image of the political science major than might be gleaned from the brief video of her final moments.

According to Temple University's student government, Hithon participated in a mentorship program for community children prior to transferring to the Philadelphia school. In addition, she held a leadership fellowship position for two years through the University of California.

"We are so proud and grateful to have had her as a Temple Owl," the student government said.

According to multiple accident reports, the BMW Hithon was driving on Sunday belonged to a Miami resident, who told Patch that he didn't know Hithon.

"I rented my car to Cariann through a rental car app and did not know her before this incident," he said, asking that his name not be included in the article.

The woman's father, Cary Hithon, told Local 10 News that his daughter traveled to Miami Beach to celebrate her 22nd birthday.

"I had to calm my spirit and understand I don't know what happened so I can't be too quick to judge," the Maryland resident told the television crew earlier this week. "Something may have happened to my daughter in the moment that caused her to act nothing like anything I can recall or understand."

Ernesto Rodriguez of the Miami Beach Police Department told Patch that Cajuso was recovering from his injuries at home.

Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel J. Oates and other members of the department visited Cajuso in the hospital on Sunday night.

Rodriguez said that Hithon struck Cajuso in the 200 block of 12th Street. The BMW had been parked in the 1400 block of Ocean Drive before police said it was involved in a string of hit-and-run accidents. Investigators believe Hithon had already built up a high rate of speed as she passed cars in the oncoming lane and then slammed into two vehicles in the first two blocks she encountered at 12 Street and Ocean Drive.

A passenger in Hithon's BMW was detained for questioning but was later released without charges. He was identified by police as 22-year-old Ryan Jerrell Lucas, also of Bowie.

Hithon discusses civility in this 2013 video posted on YouTube:

Reporting by Patch Editor Paul Scicchitano.

Photo courtesy YouTube.