Miami-Dade Police Officers Ambushed in Hail of Gunfire

(Updated at 9:18 p.m. Tuesday) MIAMI, FL — The two veteran undercover Miami-Dade police officers who were shot on Monday night were sitting inside their unmarked police vehicle when they were ambushed by at least two suspects who opened fire, landing what appeared to be at least 20 shots, according to police and photographs of the crime scene.

Well wishes poured into the Miami-Dade Police Department from Florida and across the country on social media.

Police announced shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday that they had detained several individuals in connection with the attacks. They later said that one of the individuals, 18-year-old Alexander Stalling, was arrested on unrelated charges.

"They will be interviewed to determine their involvement, if any, with regards to yesterday’s police-involved shooting," explained Detective Jennifer Capote of Miami-Dade Police Department, who said that police will continue to follow any and all leads in the investigation.

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One of the two detectives was able to return fire, but police did not know if he hit either of the suspects.

Police released photographs of the bullet-riddled police vehicle on Tuesday. At least 10 bullet holes could be seen in the windshield, while another 10 bullet holes could be seen on the passenger side of the vehicle.

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Miami-Dade police identified the officers on Tuesday as 26-six year veteran of the force Terence White, who was struck once in the arm and 11-year veteran Charles Woods, who was struck once in the leg.

Both officers were taken to Ryder Trauma Center of Jackson Memorial Hospital, where the 47-year-old White was listed in stable condition as of Tuesday and the 37-year-old Woods had already been treated and released.

WATCH NOW as Perez addresses the media:

The incident took place before 10 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 1900 block of NW 60th Street as the officers were conducting surveillance for gang activity.

"The undercover detectives were ambushed by at least two armed subjects, who approached the unmarked police vehicle and began shooting at the detectives," said Detective Marjorie Eloi.

"A responding officer coming to their aide arrived on scene, placed the wounded detectives into his unmarked police vehicle and transported them to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center in stable condition," she added. "Officers from multiple agencies responded to assist in the search for the shooters, who remain at large."

Miami-Dade Police Director Juan J. Perez declared overnight that the "ambush-style attack" would only serve to ignite his department into action.

Meanwhile, fellow officers conducted a manhunt on the streets where the attack took place. Perez was joined by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez along with a number of Miami-Dade police officers outside Jackson Memorial Hospital on Monday night after the shootings.

Perez told reporters that the attacks occurred as the officers were conducting an investigation within the Annie Coleman public housing apartments at 2200 NW 57th St.

Local 10 News showed video of the two officers being helped into Jackson from the cargo bed of an unmarked black police pickup truck.

Fellow officers reportedly drove their injured comrades in the Ford truck rather than risk having Miami Fire Rescue try to enter the "hot zone" to transport them.

At least one of the wounded officers could be seen limping, but both managed to walk into the hospital on their own accord while being supported by fellow officers, who wore plainclothes and bulletproof vests marked "police."

Perez said that the wounded officers were working in the homicide task force of the gang unit.

He made an impassioned plea for the community to help police find the "perps" who wounded his officers, who "had the scare of their life tonight," and he said that the same individuals were creating havoc and chaos.

"We need you now to step up to the plate. And, if you know something, if you saw something to say something. Today is the day that you need to stand up to bring justice for what occurred here," Perez insisted, calling those responsible "murderers" within the community.

"Today we had a very scary incident," Perez acknowledged, saying that police on the scene could smell the gun powder in the air and actually ran toward it.

"We got lucky tonight that the officers will survive," he explained. "These are the people that are shooting our kids. These are the people that shoot at the Martin Luther King parade. These are the people that are causing havoc into our community and we're not going to stop. This isn't going to deter us from doing our jobs. This is going to ignite a bigger fire within us to protect our citizens, our communities and our neighborhoods in Miami-Dade."

Perez also called for prayers from the community.

Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel J. Oates took to social media to offer his department's help and prayers soon after word began to spread of the incident.

The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police asked the community to pray for the officers as well and were among the first to arrive at the hospital.

Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Esteban Bovo also took to social media to offer his concern and prayers.

Earlier this month, three men were arrested after opening fire on two undercover Miami-Dade County police detectives, who returned fire and wounded one of the suspects in an exchange of "several gunshots."

Monday's incident is being investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement under the Miami-Dade County policy for officer-involved shootings.

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS
(8477) or 866-471-8477, visit crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a
Tip" or text "CSMD" followed by the tip to 274637.

Photos of the bullet-riddled police vehicle courtesy of Miami-Dade Police Department