Photo: Svitlana Hulko / iStock / Getty Images
Miami, FL - A startling video taken near Bayfront Park in downtown Miami shows a police officer allegedly firing multiple shots into a moving vehicle while clinging to the hood.
The footage, shared with NBC Miami by filmmaker Billy Corben, captures the officer atop the hood of a BMW as it drives along Biscayne Boulevard.
The officer is seen discharging his weapon through the windshield before the vehicle comes to a stop.
The driver exits with hands raised and is later seen lying on the ground as another officer places him in handcuffs.
What led to the shooting remains unclear, as the recording does not show events before the shots were fired.
Miami Police claim the officer was struck by the vehicle near Biscayne Boulevard and 2nd Street, prompting the response.
Both the officer and the driver were hospitalized following the confrontation.
A woman who identified herself as the driver’s sister told local media she was inside the vehicle at the time and alleged the officer stepped into the car’s path before opening fire.
According to her, the car was moving slowly and the officer was on the hood when the shots were fired.
Retired Homestead Police Captain Fernando Morales, reviewing the video, said use-of-force incidents must be evaluated based on what the officer perceived in the moment.
He added that compliance with commands is critical, and had the vehicle stopped, the situation may not have escalated.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation.
Miami Police said no further comments will be made during the review.