Man with rifle fires shots on Palmetto Expressway

Highway shut down as police investigate

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was taken into custody Monday morning after he shot rounds at passing vehicles on the Palmetto Expressway, police said. 

The 37-year-old man also fired rounds from a rifle at police, Miami-Dade police director Juan Perez said. 

"This might have been something random where he was just shooting at vehicles as he was traveling down the Palmetto," Detective Dan Ferrin of Miami-Dade police said. "But we don't know." 

Police did exchange gunfire with the shooter, and nether police, nor the suspect were injured. 

The incident, which police have called a "non-contact police shooting," took place at about 1:15 a.m. near Northwest 58th Street. 

The shooter shot two vehicles, before he lost control of his red Toyota Corolla and crashed it into a concrete median,Ferrin said. His vehicle then spun around and he started driving northbound in the southbound lanes before he hit a barrier next to a shoulder. 

At one point the shooter surrendered to police.  

Police were able to apprehend the shooter. 

"A tragedy was averted," Perez said in a tweet. 

The Palmetto Expressway’s southbound lanes were shut down near Northwest 58th Street as police investigated.

"As you can tell, it's a very extensive scene. Many shots were fired, possibly from the suspect and possibly from our officers since they did return fire," Ferrin said.

Police have asked anyone with information about this incident, or witnesses,  to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. 

Stay with Local 10 and Local10.com for updates.