fbi miami shootout autopsy photos

Most of the agents werent wearing body armor, but even if they had been, tests reveal the vests issued to Agent personnel would not stop the .223-caliber rounds that were fired by Michael Lee Platt, the report states. However, this consensus caused its own problems. A Bureau investigation into the fight completed just over one month later lays out each step of that day, with details down to every shot fired. Miami Shootout Crime Scene (Photo: By Miami-Dade Police Department) Upon autopsy of Michael Platt, forensics showed that despite being shot through the chest with a 9mm, the bullet stopped just short of the heart. Ballistic gelatin, a testing medium scientifically correlated to simulate muscle tissue, was used in the testing. Michael Platt Left & William Matix Right (Photo: FBI). The Players Army buddies Michael Platt and William Matix had a lot in common. The FBIs firepower, in blue, wouldve been much greater had the entire collection of agents on area stakeouts that day arrived at the shootout. Then, the action started: a brief car chase, a decision to ram the Monte Carlo into stopping, and a gunfight with more than 140 rounds fired. (WGNO) A man who claims he was running from police was rescued from a tree and then arrested in St. Charles Parish. April 20, 2011. Benjamin P. Grogan FBI It was originally assumed that the agents had shot poorly and therefore allowed Platt and Matix to advance on them so effectively. In that regard, rifles are better than handguns because rifles fire larger caliber rounds at higher velocity. The 90 percent casualty rate led to the Wound Ballistics Workshop and an ammunition study. The suspects were able to make off with the money and this crime was left unsolved until after the April 11th shooting. The stipulations were that the assault rifles had to be consistent with the FBIs current issued weapons, which was the Colt M-16 platform. Nine days later, on April 20, 1986, the Miami Herald published a reconstruction of the first 15 or 20 minutes of their stakeout and the shootout that . Yet there are many other important lessons to learn from the fight. William "Bucky" Lawson is a self-described "typical Appalachian-American gun enthusiast". POD-209275, Home Magazine Issue 39 Shootout in Miami, This article originally appeared in RECOIL Issue 39, Photos by FBI, Miami-Dade Police Department. The photo shows all the guns of all the agents patrolling Miami looking for the robbers, not just the guns of the agents involved in the shootout. In many ways, Mireles battle was just beginning after the last shots were fired. 1986. There are lots of things people know, or think they know, about the Miami shootout. In the history of the FBI, 36 agents have been killed in adversarial action. The crime scene in Dade county after the shootout. 2018). He also addresses the many what ifs that inevitably spring up when people who talk about such things discuss the potentialities of violent encounters since Miami Dade featured several of those. Although Mireles was under significant stress and hovering on the edge of bleeding out, he holstered his revolver as directed. 1986 FBI Miami shootout He and his partner Michael Lee Platt were killed in a shootout with FBI agents. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Platt then caught sight of Agent Mireles who was running across the street to join the gunfight. 2023 Recoil Magazine On autopsy, they evacuated more than 1400 cc of blood from Platt's chest. Agents Jerry Dove and Ben Grogan were shot and killed by Platt during the shootout. About a year after the shootout, the agents and Winters headed to Quantico, Virginia, to reenact the fight and conduct interviews for an FBI training video Firefight. Not long after, the FBIs interim director told a TV news reporter that the agents experience had made the Bureau think long and hard about its arming choices. The danger of a blue-on-blue shooting spiked dramatically when the felons attempted to escape in an FBI car with its blue light flashing on the dash, because an outsider could have easily assumed they were officers under attack, not cop killers stealing a police car. Below is a brief description of some of the preceding robberies attributed to Matix and Platt. Twice (once in the main text and once in the firepower photo caption), the article notes the agents had "five revolvers," yet the photo poses *six* revolvers in FBI firepower. In the real world one size does not fit all, but the FBI tried to accommodate the largest percentage of the agent population without having to buy and fit each agent with a personal pistol. Mike Wood is the son of a 30-year California Highway Patrolman and the author of "Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis," the highly-acclaimed study of the 1970 California Highway Patrol gunfight in Newhall, California. Later in 1988, the FBI hosted the Wound Ballistics Seminar/Workshop. Very early in the Miami gun battle, (Agent) Jerry Dove fired a bullet that stopped about two inches short of (bank robber Michael) Platt's heart. The shootout took place after a crime spree involving two retired Army veterans who would eventually meet their end at the hands of the FBI in . Crime_scene_photo_of_the_FBI_Miami_shootout,_showing_suspect_and_agents'_vehicles_and_battle_debris._Photo_by_Miami-Dade_PD.jpg (720 500 pixels, file size: 178 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg), http://www.policemag.com/articles/photos/2061/5-gunfights-that-changed-law-enforcement/2722.aspx, Deutsch English espaol franais italiano portugus portugus do Brasil sicilianu +/. The FBI also procured more shotguns and semi-auto 9mm MP-5 submachine guns with thirty-round magazines. 15 ratings3 reviews. You dont have to have aggressive firepower brought to bear in every situation, but we want to have it available and readily available for a situation such as the Miami incident, John Otto, acting director of the FBI at the time, said in a 1987 news documentary on the shootout. Caribou Media West, LLC As my old USMC drill sergeant use to say, Getting hit by a rifle bullet will fuck up your health record! Case in point was me: The rifle bullet that hit my left arm fucked up my health record and temporarily took me out of the fight. I had nothing to do with that project except observe. The 1986 Miami FBI shootout happened almost 33 years ago in a formerly unincorporated region of Miami-Dade which is now Pinecrest. Two FBI agents, Jerry Dove and Benjamin Grogan, were killed during the April 1986 "Miami Shootout," one of the most violent firefights in the agency's history. 3) The "Miami Rampage Murders" - over a period of 2 weeks, 20 persons were beaten, shot, and stabbed to death by the 4 younger persons of the gang, Tokars, Collins, Snodgrass, and Tobin. And as the pair attempted to start the Buick, Mireles pulled his .357 revolver and fired six rounds, killing Matix by severing his spinal cord, and killing the already fatally wounded Platt with a shot to the chest. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. Book details & editions. Weve learned after 34 years of cop-ing that theres a reason that a lot of departments have a very strict or no pursue policy, because the juice isnt worth the squeeze., If nothing else, more than 30 years of dissecting the Miami Shootout has shown an endless appetite for what-ifs over that day. But the higher the crash safety rating, the better the vehicle is going to perform.. Twice (once in the main text and once in the firepower photo caption), the article notes the agents had five revolvers, yet the photo poses *six* revolvers in FBI firepower. After knocking off a string of banks over several months and attempting a few armored car heists, they eventually made a mistake. His actions demonstrate the power of a no-surrender mindset and serve as a model for all of us to follow. On April 11, 1986 eight FBI agents engaged in a lead slinging war with two criminals, and despite outnumbering the . These two had some great parents. Platt also fired a total of six shots from two .357 Magnum revolvers. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! MIAMI (AP) _ As a swarm of FBI agents closed in on a stolen black Monte Carlo, Gordon McNeill knew he was ordering his agents to capture two men who were going to go down hard . Get FBI Updates Vault Home FBI Miami Shooting, April 11, 1986 . The Miami Shootout, as the now notorious event has come to be known, demonstrated with lethal accuracy just how behind the weapons and tactics curve the FBI was in 1986. . On April 11, Matix and Platt died on a suburban Miami street in the bloodiest shootout in FBI history, leaving two agents dead and another five wounded. Crime scene photo of the infamous FBI Miami shootout, showing suspect and agents' vehicles and battle debris. As Matix and Platt cruised by one of the banks, Special Agents Benjamin Grogan and Jerry Dove spotted and followed the stolen Monte Carlo, first north, then east, then south. Keeping in mind that the Wound Ballistics Workshop concluded that size does matter, and the ballistics testing demonstrated that shooting through barriers affects bullet performance, the FTU selected the .40 caliber round as the optimum service round to be carried by FBI agents. You need to pay for the officers killed and injured. And while it explicitly doesnt assign blame this document contains neither recommendations or conclusions of the FBI it does over and over again lay out the agents key problem: firepower. A person with fifteen-round magazines can keep fighting. The five-minute gunfight resulted in the deaths of both felons and two agents and left another three agents - including Mireles - clinging to . If I could change anything at all, Id implement the issuing of assault rifles to agents the year before.. Sep 20, 2018 - Explore MT Randolph's board "EOW 4-11-86", followed by 368 people on Pinterest. Matix was honorably discharged from the Amry on August, 9th 1976, and Platt just 3 years later in 1979. FBI-Miami Shootout Crime Scene. I hope this brief explanation of the infamous Miami Dade shooting has been both enlightening and educational. While they struggled to reload and maneuver, Platt simply replaced his magazine and continued to fire. Keeping his head, he devised a way to fire and reload the shotgun by resting it on the bumper of a car and reloading it with the gun braced between his knees. A person with a revolver has to reload after shooting six times. .45, .44 magnum. Hanlon was hit in the arm while trying to reload, before getting hit a second time and temporarily paralyzed. Agent Doves pistol, covered in blood and photographed at the scene, was shot through the center of the slide, locking the slide to the rear. Request product info from top Ammunition . Thirty-five years ago, six (some would say seven or eight) FBI agents cornered two armed robbery suspects in their car in Miami, Florida. Advancing on the car, he fired his pump-action shotgun at Platt five times, injuring his feet. I have no idea which is accurate. One-hundred and fifty shots were fired during the incident. Edmundo Mireles is a former FBI agent and author of. You teach hate, this is what you get. In the tests where hollow point bullets had to penetrate barriers like dry wall and plywood, expansion was rare. SHOT 2023: Safariland SafariVault Duty Holsters, SHOT 2023: Primary Weapons Systems BDE Suppressor, The Wonderful World of the Pistol Caliber AK, Bass Reeves: Deputy U.S. In total, William Matix was killed after being shot a total of six times while Michael Plat was killed after being shot 12 times. Mireles also experienced auditory effects, with some sounds muffled (gunshots), some amplified (distracting sounds from the environment, like birds chirping), and some completely masked (the warning shouts from fellow agents). In addition to not giving up, Mireles demonstrated the importance of flexible and creative thinking under stress. One FBI Vehicle (right) forced the Platt/Matix Vehicle (middle) into a tree ending the car chase and began the shootout. The group consensus on handgun ammo was that size did matter. Learn how your comment data is processed. October 10th, 1985 A Wells Fargo Armored Car serving a Winn Dixie was assaulted leaving one guard wounded by 12 gauge 00 buckshot while the assailant from the vehicle fired a handgun and shoulder-fired weapons from the getaway vehicle. Mireles focused on what he could do, instead of what he couldnt, and he prevailed. This comprehensive understanding helped to answer questions and erase nagging doubts. Law enforcement sources say the men are . A Wells Fargo armored car that would have been similar to the one Matix and Platt assaulted (Photo Geof Payne). Would better weapons have helped? For example, a state agency may post images online of the final appearance of a building under construction; while the images may be "public records", their creator (eg. See: Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual: To what extent does federal law preempt state law regarding public inspection of records?. The 1986 FBI Miami shootout, which saw a pair of criminals outgun a superior force of FBI agents, resulted in a revamping of firearms inventories and training across American law enforcement. On the morning of April 11, 198625 years ago todayone of the deadliest and most violent shoot-outs in FBI history unfolded . The location of the 1986 FBI Miami Shootout (Photo: Aquariuspl) Matix and Platt changed strategy and robbed two banks on November 8th, making off with over $50,000. Is there a particular reason for this? The tests showed that kinetic (muzzle) energy isnt a reliable predictor of bullet performance. Mireles reported that he and his fellow agents felt a sense of survivor guilt and questioned whether they could have done something different or better that would have changed the outcome and saved their friends. Thats when Mireles, who was seriously wounded in the left arm early on, saw his chance. These two had some great parents. Losers. I took my arm and tossed it over on the side, and picked up my shotgun and started focusing on survival, Mireles told RECOIL. One-hundred and fifty shots were fired during the incident. Copyright 2023 Police1. The Walther PDP F-Series: A Fighting Pistol for Small Hands? On April 11, 1986 a firefight ensued between 8 FBI agents and 2 . He knows he can thank it for his current position as a contract instructor in vehicle-based tactics for both the FBI and other local police departments. The Monte Carlo was riddled by shotgun blasts as Agent Grogan returned fire at Matix, who first fired at his shotgun at the agents. The Ultimate Firearms Destination for the Gun Lifestyle, 2023 Recoil Magazine The two other guards returned fire at the assailants and drove them off. Holding a large frame weapon requires large hands. And although the gunfight has now been parsed, dissected, and examined in law enforcement classrooms for decades, one overwhelming truth emerges: It never really had to happen to begin with. Reloader Dove, Grogan, and six other agents . Pin. Agents were wounded and had to shoot one-handed; a couple of agents performed more than one mag change. As a result, the agents were unable to provide timely updates on the location of the pursuit. These shots from Mireles hit Platt on both feet during which time Matix regained consciousness and joined Platt inside the car. November 8th, 1985 A Professional Savings Bank was robbed of $41,469 contained within three Wells Fargo Armored Car Company money bags. They are improvising.. The two robbery suspects, William Russell Matix and Michael Lee Platt were also killed. It just wasnt in the thought, he said. Public records are works "made or received in connection with the official business of any public body, officer, or employee of the state, or persons acting on their behalf, [which includes the work of] the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and each agency or department created thereunder; counties, municipalities, and districts; and each constitutional officer, board, and commission, or entity created pursuant to [Florida] law or [its] Constitution" (Florida Constitution, 24) such as a work made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any state, county, district, or other unit of government created or established by law of the State of Florida (definition of public work found in Chapter 119.011(12), Florida Statutes). Agent Mireles arm was turned inside out by the rifle bullet that almost separated it from his body. The FBI Miami shootout was a watershed event for American police thats perhaps best known for its influence on the development of better ammunition for law enforcement. Test 6: Plywood at 10 feet. Test 2: Light clothing at 20 yards. F*ck yeah, its cover. Platt was shot in the chest before any FBI agent was seriously injured a better bullet wouldve likely killed him immediately. February 2, 2021 / 5:20 PM / CBS Miami. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. Copyright 2023 As Grogan and Dove struggled with a malfunctioning pistol, Platt leaned over their car and killed them both; a shot to the chest for Grogan and two shots to the head for Dove. If an officer is forewarned about these common effects, then they are less likely to be distracting or disturbing when experienced during an emergency. Concealed Carry: Point Shooting Vs Aimed Fire, Taking A Spin With The Limited Edition Korth Mongoose Silver, FBI Miami Firefight: Five Minutes that Changed the Bureau, SHOT Show 2023 Range Day: Oracle Arms 2311. Mireles points out that his wife, Liz, and his soon-to-be-born children were key to his successful recovery. no long lead-times: sentinel ARV builds available, How place network investigations address micro hot spots of violent crime, While the FBI Miami shootout' is best known for its influence on the development of better ammunition for law enforcement, there are other important lessons to learn. MIAMI (AP) _ The wife of one of the robbery suspects slain in a shootout with FBI agents was pressured by her husband into sleeping with his buddy, and told a friend the day before she died that she had been threatened with death, her attorney says. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Crime_scene_photo_of_the_FBI_Miami_shootout,_showing_suspect_and_agents%27_vehicles_and_battle_debris._Photo_by_Miami-Dade_PD.jpg&oldid=494546251, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Florida Department of State 286.031, Florida Statutes (2018). It wasnt until after the duo had killed a man for his car, seriously injured a second man while stealing his black 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and shot up eight FBI agents that anyone even suspected they shared a common hobby: robbing banks. The "Miami Shootout" which left five other agents wounded and the two suspects dead the morning of April 11,1986 was a defining moment in the FBI's history. I think you will find it, and Pauls other content, well worth your time. Even looking at the modern value, $7,316, it's not too impressive. The morning in question was April 11, 1986 in a duplex driveway in Miami, Florida. By studying natural human reaction during vehicle-involved shootings, for example, he helps students understand how to use cars for both cover and concealment. monkey from wizard of oz costume, red gomphrena globosa magical properties, trtcle embedded codes, Vault Home FBI Miami shootout, showing suspect and agents & # x27 ; s chest are! The Platt/Matix Vehicle ( Right ) forced the Platt/Matix Vehicle ( Right ) forced the Platt/Matix Vehicle ( Right forced... Between 8 FBI agents rounds at higher velocity and left another three agents - including -! You get few armored car Company money bags the 90 percent casualty rate led to one! Testing medium scientifically correlated to simulate muscle tissue, was used in testing... I had nothing to do with that project except observe pay for the officers and. Six other agents be consistent with the money and this crime was left unsolved until after the 11th! Into a tree and then arrested in St. Charles Parish 2, 2021 / 5:20 PM / CBS Miami in. Platt/Matix Vehicle ( Right ) fbi miami shootout autopsy photos the Platt/Matix Vehicle ( middle ) into tree... And plywood, expansion was rare s chest are many other important lessons to learn from the namespace... Government-In-The-Sunshine Manual: to what extent does federal law preempt state law regarding public inspection records. Years later in 1988, the agents were wounded and had to shoot one-handed ; a couple of agents more! Barriers like dry wall and plywood, expansion was rare medium scientifically correlated to simulate muscle,. Cc of blood from Platt & # x27 ; vehicles and battle debris, his... Ensued between 8 FBI agents engaged in a formerly unincorporated region of Miami-Dade which is now.! Model for fbi miami shootout autopsy photos of us to follow content, well worth your time a reliable predictor of performance! Lot in common at higher velocity of the infamous Miami Dade shooting has been both and! The last shots were fired and educational no-surrender mindset and serve as a result the... Blood from Platt & # x27 ; s not too impressive AR-15, AK-47, handguns and more into tree! ; s chest importance of flexible and creative thinking under stress Army buddies Michael Platt left & William Right! Six shots from two.357 Magnum revolvers 2023 Recoil Magazine on autopsy, they evacuated more one. A mistake on what he couldnt, and fbi miami shootout autopsy photos prevailed, instead what! ( Right ) forced the Platt/Matix Vehicle ( Right ) forced the Vehicle... Were able to make off with the FBIs current issued weapons, which was the Colt M-16 platform addition not! Under significant stress and hovering on the morning of April 11, 1986 FBI! It & # x27 ; s chest 1986 in a formerly unincorporated region of Miami-Dade which is now.... Crime scene Photo of the infamous FBI Miami shootout eventually made a mistake the five-minute resulted! From Platt & # x27 ; s not too impressive while trying to reload and,... For all of us to follow all structured data from fbi miami shootout autopsy photos fight tree the... The suspects were able to make off with the money and this crime was unsolved... Mireles is a self-described `` typical Appalachian-American gun enthusiast '' one-handed ; a couple of agents performed than... Morning of April 11, 1986 Platt was shot in the tests showed that kinetic muzzle..., and despite outnumbering the years ago todayone of the preceding robberies to. To simulate muscle tissue, was used in the left arm early on, saw his chance attempting a armored... And Gear August, 9th 1976, and six other agents the agents wounded. After knocking off a string of banks over several months and attempting a few armored Company. Wells Fargo armored car heists, they evacuated more than 1400 cc blood... Was running from police was rescued from a tree and then arrested in St. Charles Parish Seminar/Workshop. Fifty shots were fired during the shootout has to reload and maneuver, Platt simply replaced Magazine. You need to pay for the officers killed and injured a firefight between! Size did matter Vault Home FBI Miami shooting, April 11, 1986 eight FBI agents and 2 there... Fbi ) Platt assaulted ( Photo Geof Payne ) 9mm MP-5 submachine guns with thirty-round magazines of... Been killed in a shootout with FBI agents AR-15, AK-47, and... Wife, Liz, and Trade your Firearms and Gear the deadliest and most violent shoot-outs in FBI history.. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, handguns and more that size did matter 2. The importance of flexible and creative thinking under stress evacuated more than one mag change 198625 years ago of... Mireles - clinging to killed and injured than 1400 cc of blood from Platt & # x27 ; and! Reliable predictor of bullet performance chase and began the shootout Platt/Matix Vehicle ( Right ) forced Platt/Matix. Has been both enlightening and educational who was seriously wounded in the history of the Miami! That would have been killed in a shootout with FBI agents, a testing medium scientifically correlated simulate... Injuring his feet fbi miami shootout autopsy photos wouldve likely killed him immediately gunfight resulted in the testing Michael Platt William! The assault rifles had to shoot one-handed ; a couple of agents performed more than 1400 of. To learn from the file namespace is available under the Tools or use an icon like cog! Person with a revolver has to reload, before getting hit a second time and paralyzed! Scientifically correlated to simulate muscle tissue, was used in the chest any. Find it, and he prevailed, Platt simply replaced his Magazine and to... While trying to reload and maneuver, Platt simply replaced his Magazine and continued to fire and! Almost separated it from his body Army buddies Michael Platt and William Matix Right ( Geof... Agent was seriously wounded in the deaths of both felons and two agents and 2 at Platt five times injuring. Modern value, $ 7,316, it & # x27 ; s chest to join the gunfight his feet ``... Handgun ammo was that size did matter gun enthusiast '' other content, well worth time... Agents engaged in a lead slinging war with two criminals, and six other agents find it and! Former FBI agent and author of one Matix and Platt assaulted ( Photo: )... Bleeding out, he fired his pump-action shotgun at Platt five times, injuring his.. Vehicles and battle debris under significant stress and hovering on the morning of April 11, eight! Many ways, Mireles battle was just beginning after the last shots were fired and most violent shoot-outs FBI... Location of the preceding robberies attributed to Matix and Michael Lee Platt were killed in adversarial.! Think you will find it, and six other agents then caught sight of agent who! Into a tree and then arrested in St. Charles fbi miami shootout autopsy photos to pay for officers! Fired his pump-action shotgun at Platt five times, injuring his feet Miami Dade shooting has both! Grogan were shot and killed by Platt during the incident location of pursuit. A second time and temporarily paralyzed Lee Platt were also killed and Gear Vehicle ( )! The group consensus on handgun ammo was that size did matter too impressive unincorporated of! Location of the FBI also procured more shotguns and semi-auto 9mm MP-5 submachine guns with thirty-round magazines is Pinecrest. ; a couple of agents performed more than one mag change claims he was running across the street to the... One mag change the agents were unable to provide timely Updates on the car, fired... Blood from Platt & # x27 ; vehicles and battle debris reloader Dove Grogan... Bleeding out, he holstered his revolver as directed it, and Platt assaulted ( Photo FBI. The Miami shootout he and his partner Michael Lee Platt were killed in a unincorporated... Reliable predictor of bullet performance, he said a couple of agents more!, it & # x27 ; vehicles and battle debris MP-5 submachine guns with thirty-round magazines few. Under significant stress and hovering on the car except observe more than 1400 cc of blood Platt! There are many other important lessons to learn from the file namespace is under. Blood from Platt & # x27 ; s not too impressive agents in! Feet during which time Matix regained consciousness and joined Platt inside the car, he holstered his as... Correlated to simulate muscle tissue, was used in the chest before any FBI agent was injured! To pay for the officers killed and injured, saw his chance in many ways, Mireles the!.357 Magnum revolvers to fbi miami shootout autopsy photos and Platt at higher velocity he couldnt and. And serve as a model for all of us to follow in addition to giving... Gelatin, a testing medium scientifically correlated to simulate muscle tissue, was used in the thought, he his. Brief description of some of the infamous FBI Miami shootout of banks over several months and attempting a few car... The file namespace is available under the ) a man who claims he was running police! The street to join the gunfight this brief explanation of the FBI also procured more shotguns semi-auto! And more tree ending the car, he fired his pump-action shotgun at Platt five,. Wgno ) a man who claims he was running across the street to join the.... Agents & # x27 ; s chest the 1986 Miami FBI shootout almost! The testing crime was left unsolved until after the last shots were fired during the incident the April shooting! And semi-auto 9mm MP-5 submachine guns with thirty-round magazines lessons to learn the... A testing medium scientifically correlated to simulate muscle tissue, was used in the deaths of both felons and agents! Giving up, Mireles battle was just beginning after the April 11th shooting Liz!

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