Five suspects including an alleged gunman have been taken into custody in connection with Wednesday's shooting of an undercover Miami-Dade Police narcotics officer, officials said.
Steve Gallon IV, 32, is expected to be charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm, officials said. Atiba Moore, 30, faces a charge of solicitation to commit first-degree murder.
Kendrick Jose Watkins, 33; Frederick Lee Watkins, 27; and Andre Darrell Copeland, 47, were accused of harboring the alleged gunman after the shooting were also taken into custody, Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez told reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
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The shooting happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday in a neighborhood near the 500 block of Northwest 42nd Street. Ramirez said the officer was conducting a narcotics investigation and was approaching a suspect he was going to arrest when he was "ambushed" from behind.
The gunman, Gallon, fired a shot that grazed the officer before fleeing the scene, Ramirez said.
The officer was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center where he was treated and released. He was at home recovering Thursday, Ramirez said.
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"He's doing well, obviously he's shooken up like we all are, we're very thankful," Ramirez said.
Ramirez didn't release the identity of the officer, but said he's been with the department for around 18 years and worked undercover.
"I did that job myself, you have to blend into the environment and you’re following criminal element and there are risks with that but that’s the only way that you can stop violent criminal activity," Ramirez said.
Ramirez said even after the officer was shot, he managed to take one suspect, Moore, into custody.
Police from multiple agencies swarmed the neighborhood and launched a massive manhunt to find Gallon.
Ramirez announced early Thursday that the gunman had been captured.
"Thanks to the tireless efforts of my officers, the coward who ambushed my detective yesterday is in custody," he tweeted. "Thank you to all of our local law enforcement partners for their help."
Ramirez said Gallon had been hiding in a house, and was taken into custody when he went outside.
Oliver Haligon lives next door to the home where police found Gallon. When he finally got a chance to go home Wednesday night, he wanted to make sure it was safe.
"First thing I did I did a tour of my garden and check everywhere to be sure there was nobody,” Haligon said.
Haligon said he had no idea Gallon was hiding next door. He said he didn’t witness the arrest.
"What I didn't expect at all is the second guy they were looking for was hiding in the house,” Haligon said. "You really surprised me, telling me he was hiding in the house and the police didn't find him."
Haligon was surprised police didn’t find Gallon sooner, but he’s grateful they did find him.
"There were hundreds and he was just there and they shut down 16, 20 blocks when he was just in the house,” Haligon said.
NBC 6 confirmed through sources that Gallon is the son of Miami-Dade School Board member Dr. Steve Gallon III. NBC 6 reached out to Gallon III for comment but have not heard back.
