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Police cruisers are stationed before the roundabout inside CityPlace Doral on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Police cruisers are stationed before the roundabout inside CityPlace Doral on Saturday, April 6, 2024. ()

(Tribune News Service) — A gunman and a security guard were shot dead and seven others were injured — including an Army-trained Doral police officer who wrapped a tourniquet around his injured upper thigh — in a shootout involving police at a Doral nightclub early Saturday.

According to Miami-Dade police, a dispute broke out at Martini Bar at CityPlace Doral around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. A security guard intervened and was shot and killed by the gunman. Two Doral police officers who were at Martini Bar on security detail exchanged gunfire with the shooter.

Nine people in total were shot.

In addition to the security guard, the gunman was killed in the exchange, and six people at the bar were injured during the shootout, along with a Doral police officer.

“One of the officers, the one who was struck, with four years of service, applied a tourniquet on himself immediately after being struck. Even after he discharged his firearm, the extensive training that our police officers undergo is a testament to why that officer is alive today,” Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez said during a news conference Saturday morning.

“Coincidentally, one year ago to the day, we conducted a mass casualty and multi-agency active shooter drill here at the same establishment,” Lopez said.

Lopez told the Miami Herald that the officer had military training and knew what to do.

“Both discharged,” Lopez said, speaking about the gunman and the two officers on duty. One of the officers shot the gunman. “There were only three firearms. They went in without delay. He not only saved the life of patrons, but he saved his own life by using the tourniquet.”

The officer was taken to Jackson Memorial, where he is reported in stable condition, Miami-Dade Det. Alvaro Zabaleta said.

Of the six bystanders who were wounded, two were critically injured and four were in stable condition, and all were transported to trauma centers at Jackson and HCA Kendall, Zabaleta said. Two of the victims are women, four are men, Zabaleta told the Herald, updating initial reports.

Police have not identified the officers involved, the fatally wounded security guard or the gunman. The initial fight at Martini Bar involved two patrons — the shooter and another individual, who has not been identified.

A multi-agency investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Miami-Dade Police Department and Doral Police Department is underway. Detectives are interviewing witnesses. There have not been any arrests.

“At this time it’s too early to tell who was shot by who, but we’re actively investigating that incident,” Lopez said. “We will be shut down here for the next few hours while police conduct the investigation, but the scene and the surrounding areas are safe and secure at this time.”

Miami Herald staff writer Charles Rabin contributed to this report.

©2024 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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