A Miami police officer shot a 21-year-old man, identified by his sister as Menelek Clarke, during an incident near Bayfront Park on Sunday. The officer, who was directing traffic during the Best of the Best concert, reported that he felt threatened when Clarke’s vehicle made contact with him.
Sherylann Clarke was in the vehicle with her brother at the time, stating that they were searching for a parking spot. She described how traffic was halted and claimed the officer had signaled other vehicles to move while standing in front of her brother’s car. “He stood in front of my brother’s car and shot him,” she said. “It wasn’t intentional to hit him. The man moved with the car as he was going around him.”
Menelek Clarke was shot multiple times and taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he is currently stable but remains in critical condition. According to Sherylann, Clarke had just a tube removed and is able to talk, expressing feelings of distress during the ordeal.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, which is standard procedure in such cases.
It’s crucial to have thorough investigations in situations like these to assure accountability and transparency, potentially paving the way for communication between law enforcement and community members in Miami.