Miami officer fatally shoots man with a metal pipe in park

Miami Police officers at the scene where a man holding a pipe has been shot by a Miami police officer in a downtown park ,Thursday, June 11, 2015, in Miami. The man’s condition and identity were not immediately available. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) Miami Police officers at the scene where a man holding a pipe has been shot by a Miami police officer in a downtown park ,Thursday, June 11, 2015, in Miami. The man’s condition and identity were not immediately available. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

By Associated Press June 11, 2015 1 min read

MIAMI (AP) – Authorities say a Miami police officer fatally shot a man holding a metal pipe in a downtown park where dozens of people were present, including several children.

Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes says Thursday’s shooting occurred after officers responded to calls about a violent disturbance at Gibson Park. He says the man was shot when he refused to drop the pipe. The nature of the disturbance was not immediately clear.

Police said in a news release that the man was taken to a hospital where he died.

Llanes said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting. The chief added that the officer involved in the shooting, who is a 20-year veteran of the department, will be reassigned to administrative duties pending the investigation’s outcome.