Miami

Woman Killed in NW Miami-Dade Shooting Involving Florida Highway Patrol Trooper

Witness footage shows moment FHP trooper opens fire on car

Florida Highway Patrol officials say a woman was killed in a trooper-involved shooting during a traffic stop on Tuesday in northwest Miami-Dade.

FHP spokesperson Alejandro Camacho told NBC 6 the trooper is okay after the shooting, which occurred in the area of 16000 Northwest 7th Avenue near the Golden Glades interchange.

FHP said trooper Ronald Melendez-Bonilla made a traffic stop by the Golden Glades Metrobus Park and Ride at about 7:30 p.m. to assist another trooper attempting to stop a vehicle driving erratically.

Melendez stopped and got out of his vehicle and drew his firearm "due to the unusual behavior of the subject," FHP said in a statement Wednesday evening. 

The subject drove forward toward Melendez, who fired his firearm multiple times, fatally shooting the subject.

Footage from a witness that was posted to Instagram showed the trooper fired several shots into the white sedan. The car then comes to a stop as other troopers and officers arrive.

"There was some type of confrontation between the trooper and the driver at which time the trooper discharged his firearm into the vehicle and fatally struck the driver," FHP Commander Christopher Dellapietra said.

FHP identified the subject as 32-year-old Latasha Nicole Walton.

As per protocol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will launch an investigation.

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