A report about a suspicious person in Miami Beach, Florida, potentially carrying a handgun concluded with a police officer accidentally shooting a fellow cop. Surprisingly, the man in question was discovered to have been in possession of nothing more than a metallic lighter.
Law&Crime obtained police body camera footage from the incident and the report from the State Attorney’s Office that vindicated Miami Beach Police Officer Shenaqua Stringer of any criminal activity. The police department had received a 911 call just before 12:30 p.m. on March 2, reporting a man strolling on the Venetian Causeway who was suspected of carrying a firearm.
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Stringer arrived at the scene as the initial officer and observed the man walking, noticing him “reaching into his right pocket and retrieving an unknown object,” according to the report. Stringer then drew her weapon and approached the man. At the same time, Officer Fabio Bolanos drove up in his patrol car from the opposite direction. He hurried over to Stringer and the man while she was taking him down while holding her gun in her right hand. In an attempt to assist Stringer in subduing the man, Bolanos approached. Suddenly, the weapon discharged, striking Bolanos in the right calf.
The injured officer is in obvious pain as Stringer calls for help.
Background: Miami Beach police Officer Shenaqua Stringer wrestles with a man thought to have a gun. (MBPD). Inset: Officer Fabio Bolanos, who was accidentally shot by Stringer (Miami Beach Police FOP).
“Why’d you do that?” the subject at the center of the call says as he’s lying face-first on the ground. “Ain’t nobody do nothing. You f—ed up his leg. He’s bleeding a lot.”
Blood pools around the man.
“Hey,” he shouts. “Blood is dripping on me.”
Bolanos continues to moan in agony as he and Stringer try to put him in handcuffs.
“Hurry up because I need a tourniquet,” Bolanos said.
“I know,” Stringer responds. “Hold on.”
Eventually, help arrives and a cop puts the tourniquet around Bolanos’ leg to slow the bleeding. Officers pick up Bolanos and place him in the back of the cruiser. During the ride to the hospital, Bolanos asks the officer driving if he can borrow his phone so he can call his wife.
“I got shot in the leg,” Bolanos tells his wife. “I’m OK though, they’re taking me to Ryder Trauma right now. I’m OK, though. Alright, babe? I love you.”
Miami ABC affiliate WSVN, which first obtained the body camera video, reports that Bolanos made a full recovery and is back on the job. But he is considering a lawsuit against the City of Miami Beach, the outlet reported.
As for Stringer, the Miami Herald reported in March that she was transferred to a different part of the agency after the incident. An internal affairs investigation is ongoing.
