2nd Suspect Charged In Police Shootout

MIAMI, FL — A second suspect has been charged in connection with a shootout with officers on Monday after leading them on a wild chase through the streets of Southwest Miami-Dade and crashing into a car driven by a mother and her two young sons. Police initially took a third man into custody at the scene but later released him.

The suspects allegedly opened fire on police at the scene of the crash and one of the officers returned fire. No one was injured by the gunfire. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Palmetto Bay-Cutler Bay Patch.

"According to investigators, undercover detectives from the South District, observed a vehicle driving erratically through a residential neighborhood. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop and the vehicle did not comply," Detective Jennifer Capote of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch.

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"As the subjects continued to drive erratically in attempts to flee from the officers, they struck a civilian vehicle at the corner of SW 268 terrace and SW 134 Place," she said. "Officers immediately approached the accident scene, when the occupants from the vehicle that fled opened fire at the officers, and an officer returned fire."

Nineteen-year-old Dionte Marco Rowe was charged with attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and other offenses, according to Detective Argemis Colome of the Miami-Dade Police Department. He had managed to elude police until Wednesday.

Twenty-one-year-old Dandre Dakwon Gaspard of Homestead was earlier charged with attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and other offenses.

The two officers on the scene were identified as Joseph Giovanni, who has been on the force for one-and-a-half years and Fernando Menoud, who has been on the force for 10 years. Police did not disclose which of the officers fired at the suspects.

Capote said that police recovered two firearms at the scene.

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old mother and her two sons were taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Baptist Homestead Hospital, where they were treated for their injuries. One of the children was 10 and the other was nine.

The mother was later identified as Nilda Cardenos of Miami. She was driving a gray Chrysler 200 while the suspects were driving a black Honda Accord.

"They are expected to recover," Capote said of the family.

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.

Dionte Marco Rowe photo courtesy of Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department.