Teen shot dead by Miami-Dade sergeant after chase, crash before charges – NBC 6 South Florida

A 15-year-old man who was shot dead by a police sergeant in a standoff after a chase and crash in northwest Miami-Dade faces charges, officials said.

Family members and a lawyer identified the suspect as Miami resident Vito Corleone-Venisse, who is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and improper display of a firearm.

Miami-Dade Police officers said the incident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Jan. 16 in the area of ​​Northwest 55th Street and Northwest 22nd Avenue while detectives were patrolling as part of the ongoing Community Shield initiative.

Detectives attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a Dodge Challenger, but the teenager driving the vehicle refused to stop. Shortly thereafter, the teenager lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence.

Officials said several people in the vehicle fled on foot in different directions and the police sergeant pursued the driver.

An altercation ensued between the sergeant and the 15-year-old, who was armed, officials said.

The sergeant opened fire, hitting the teenager, who was being transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition.

The police sergeant, a 29-year veteran of the department, was not injured.

The teenager is still hospitalized and is now partially paralyzed from being shot in the back, his attorney told NBC 6 in a previous interview.

“Which raises questions as to whether this shooting was justified,” attorney Jarlens Princilis said on Sunday.

The teenager’s firearm was recovered from the scene and an assault rifle was seen prominently inside the vehicle, police said. Police also found another handgun in the car.

Miami Dade Police

Two of the weapons were recovered on January 16, 2022 at the scene of a Miami-Dade shooting involving an officer.

According to investigators, a file review revealed the teenager had an open court pick-up order for possession of a firearm and squatted burglary.

The remaining occupants of the car were still at large.

“These individuals drove around, first, a 15-year-old driving a car. Second, a 15-year-old, armed with a handgun, assault rifle in this vehicle, wanted for possession of firearms,” ​​Miami-Dade Das police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said. “These are people who are clearly up to no good.”

Princilis had his doubts about the officers’ version of the events.

“A half-truth is a whole lie,” he said. “We question whether the officers had any reasonable suspicion that they were carrying out an appropriate traffic stop.”

Princilis did not comment on the allegations against the teenager on Friday night.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.

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