A Sweetwater Police officer was hospitalized after his gun went off in his holster as he responded to a theft at the Dolphin Mall Sunday.
The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. at the Burlington Coat Factory at the mall after four thieves attacked a loss prevention officer who tried to stop them, Sweetwater Police said.
Two Sweetwater officers assigned to the mall responded and were able to take one of the suspects into custody as they tried to flee.
As the suspect, 18-year-old Darius Brown, was being taken into custody, one of the officers' guns went off in his holster, hitting him in the leg, police said. The officer was taken to Kendall Hospital, where he was in good condition.
Brown is facing charges of robbery, felony theft and resisting without violence. The three other suspects are still at large. Sweetwater Police and Miami-Dade Police are investigating the theft and shooting.
