Trending Topics

BWC: Fla. officer fatally shoots escaped inmate holding 2 people hostage at knifepoint

The Miami Beach Police Department body camera footage shows the suspect holding the victims in a chokehold inside a store while officers worked to de-escalate the situation

BWC: Fla. officer fatally shoots escaped inmate holding 2 people hostage at knifepoint inside store

“She will die,” Young threatened as officers pleaded with him to drop the knife. Despite their efforts to reason with him, the suspect did not comply.

WPLG

By Joanna Putman
Police1

MIAMI BEACH, FLA. — Newly released police body camera footage captured the dramatic moments when a woman and a teenage girl were held at knifepoint inside a Victoria’s Secret store in 2023, WSVN reported.

The swift actions of Miami Beach Police officers saved the lives of a woman and a teenage girl, according to the report.

The incident on July 27, 2023, unfolded when police received a call about a man holding two people hostage. When officers arrived, they evacuated the store and attempted to secure the scene. The body camera footage, released on July 23, shows the suspect, identified as Darien Young, holding the victims in a chokehold while officers worked to de-escalate the situation.

“She will die,” Young threatened as officers pleaded with him to drop the knife. Despite their efforts to reason with him, the suspect did not comply.

As the situation intensified, with Young pulling the hostages into a corner and threatening their lives, Officer Cory Jackson intervened and shot the man with a single bullet. The hostages were then able to escape unharmed, according to the report.

Young was an inmate who had escaped from a minimum-security New Hampshire Department of Corrections facility a week prior to the events, according to the report.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office reviewed the incident and concluded that Jackson was justified in using his weapon in defense of the hostages.

“Officer Cory Jackson’s courageous actions were instrumental in preserving the lives of two hostages,” Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones stated.


In high-pressure situations, the best response isn’t always the quickest. Discover how taking a moment to think can enhance your effectiveness in the field. Join Gordon Graham as he explores the benefits of thoughtful decision-making in law enforcement.


Trending
"[The suspect] attempted to flee in the vehicle, colliding with three parked cars, three police cruisers, and a large dumpster,” a Waterbury Police news release stated
A Kennesaw State Police officer was severely burned while helping his fiance escape from their burning home; his department raised money for temporary housing and other needs
Newark PD detectives didn’t take the bait; instead, they executed a police raid of the residence several days later, where they found suspected cocaine and a pistol
The Haverhill PD is receiving $34,493 to continue equipping its police force with less lethal weapons, while the Lawrence PD was awarded $37,617 to purchase a new marked vehicle