Two Miami-Dade police officers shot and killed serving a warrant in Miami

Shooting scene at NW 7th Ave. and 69th Street

Two Miami-Dade officers have been shot while serving a warrant on a murder suspect at NW 7th Avenue and 69th Street in Miami Thursday morning.

One officer died on the scene. The other officer - a female - was shot and critically injured. She was transported to JMH and died in surgery according to the Miami Herald.

The officers are attached to MDPD's warrants unit. A least one suspect was also shot and is dead on the scene.

Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Alvarez at scene

A visibly shaken Nancy Perez, a lieutenant in charge of the Miami-Dade police media relations unit, speaking before live TV cameraa confirmed that one of the dead was a Miami-Dade police officer.

Television pictures showed two bodies covered by tarpaulins outside a house.

Police officer (facing camera) embraces a woman at JMH

Shortly after noon officers could be seen scaling the roof of the house and attaching tarps to the roof and a fence to shield the body of the dead officer from the view of TV helicopters.

Miami police chief Miguel Exposito, Miami-Dade police director James Loftus, Miami mayor Tomas Regaldo and Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Alvarez have responded to the scene. Deputy US marshal Barry Golden is also on the scene.

from the Miami Herald:

The dead male officer was identified as Roger Castillo. The female officer was identified as Amanda Haworth.

Johnny Sims

One suspect, identified as Johnny Sims, 23, was killed in the gun battle. Another suspect is in custody, said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

Investigators say they're not looking for any other suspects.

``We're asking for the community's prayers,'' said Commander Nancy Perez, who broke down when she announced the news shortly before 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

The county detectives were attempting to arrest Sims on a murder warrant for a slaying that happened in October in Miami, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

Sims, according to state corrections records, was released from prison in September on probation. He had been imprisoned for armed robbery and selling cocaine.

Details were sketchy, but this much was known: The shooting erupted between a suspect and police at a home near Northwest Seventh Avenue and 69th Street.

Castillo died at the scene. The female officer died in surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

At least 35 South Florida law enforcement officials have been killed in the line of duty over the last 30 years according to this list compiled by the Herald.

One of the bloodiest days in Miami-Dade police department history occurred on April 2, 1976 when a man managed to shoot three detectives to death at a motel om Miami Beach. Neither of the three had a chance to pull their guns.