Miami

No Bond For Teen Arrested in ‘Ambush-Style Attack' on Miami-Dade Detectives

Damian Antwan Thompson, 19, facing attempted murder charges

A 19-year-old man who was arrested early Wednesday after police say he opened fire in an "ambush-style attack" on two undercover Miami-Dade detectives will remain in jail for the time being.

Damian Antwan Thompson is charged with two counts of attempted murder in the Monday night shooting, Miami-Dade police officials said Wednesday. Thursday, a judge ordered he be held on no bond until he goes to trial.

Detective Terence White, 47, and Detective Charles Woods, 37, were in an unmarked police vehicle on the city's north side investigating gang activity when, according to officials, at least four men "ambushed" the car just before 10 p.m. Monday and opened fire.

Police say Thompson fired multiple shots as he walked about the car, "aiming to kill" the detectives, according to an arrest report. At least one officer returned fire, Miami-Dade Police Maj. Hector Llevat said.

"They were ambushed in their vehicle, unprovoked," Llevat said.

White was shot in the foot and was being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Woods was treated for a gunshot wound in the arm at the same Miami hospital and released. The officers' unmarked car was riddled with dozens of bullet holes.

Several people were detained Tuesday in connection to the shooting near Northwest 62nd Street and 20th Avenue. Police say several Crime Stoppers tips led police to Thompson. The wounded officers also positively identified Thompson as the suspect, according to the report.

Thompson was arrested and booked into jail where he was being held without bond Wednesday morning. Attorney information wasn't immediately available.

An arrest report said Thompson was taken into custody in a room at the Hyatt Place Hotel on Northwest 42nd Avenue, along with three other people.

The other three people who were at the hotel — 25-year-old Jamal Daniels, 22-year-old Jessica Pierre and 22-year-old Mikequesha Simmons — are facing charges unrelated to the shooting.

NBC 6's cameras captured Thompson Tuesday when he was seen in blue hospital scrubs being placed into a police squad car. Thompson's mother spoke to NBC 6 about her son's arrest. 

"I'm not saying he's innnocent. I know he be out there with a crowd. But, they didn't have to beat him like they did, you know, because he's so little. At the same time, just hurts," Michele Thompson said.

The police report indicates when police officers found the 19-year-old in the hotel room, he refused to comply, charged at the officers and started fighting with them.

During questioning, Thompson said he knew one of the officers and an investigation revealed White had previously arrested the alleged shooter earlier this year, according to the arrest warrant.

Woods is an 11-year veteran of the department and White has been on the force for 26 years. The detectives were assigned to the Homicide Street Violence Task Force as part of a multiagency gang enforcement sweep in northwest Miami-Dade County.

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