Caught on Tape: Deadly Traffic Stop in Miami Under Investigation, Authorities Say

Police said the trooper opened fire because he feared for his life.

ByABC News
May 27, 2016, 6:51 PM

— -- Florida authorities today continue to investigate a deadly police shooting in Miami Gardens, Florida, this week that was captured on a nearby gas station's surveillance camera.

In the video, a dark-colored Nissan appears to ram the back of another car as they are both stopped at a gas station. Then, a Florida Highway Patrol officer identified as Trooper Misael Diaz pulls up on his motorcycle.

"The trooper made the traffic stop," highway patrol spokesman Trooper Joe Sanchez said during a recent news conference. "The vehicle's attempting to flee. For whatever reason, the trooper ends up on the hood. The trooper fears for his life. He fires into the vehicle. The vehicle makes a U-turn and flees northbound."

In the video, the car is seen leaving the station.

Sanchez said Diaz returned to his motorcycle and then pursued the vehicle. He said the car traveled a mile and then collided head-on with a sport-utility vehicle. The driver of the SUV was hospitalized.

The driver of the fleeing car sustained gun shot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sanchez did not say how many times Diaz had fired his gun and he did not say whether the driver of the car had a weapon, according to ABC News affiliate WPLG-TV.

"If he felt that his life was threatened and the vehicle's going to run you over. ... That's assault with a deadly weapon," he said.

According to WPLG-TV, Florida Highway Patrol identified the driver as 24-year-old Doll Pierre Louis.

The passenger in the car was also hospitalized with a broken ankle, according to WPLG-TV. She was identified as Markisha Fenelon.

Sanchez said Diaz was in good health and had been placed on administrative leave for three days.

"There is no question to the traffic stop itself. As you can see, he's doing his job -- and it goes to show you that our job is a dangerous one," Sanchez said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating, he said.