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Two Miami-Dade Officers Killed Serving Federal Warrant

Aerial of shooting scene

MIAMI — A shootout erupted yesterday in Miami as a team of heavily armed law enforcement agents tried to serve a murder warrant, leaving two officers and a suspect dead, authorities said.

Miami-Dade police director James Loftus said 21-year veteran Roger Castillo had been shot once and died at the scene. Amanda Haworth, a 23-year veteran, was taken to a hospital and later died from several gunshot wounds. Officer Oscar Placencia shot and killed the suspect, 22-year-old Johnny Simms, who was armed with a handgun, Loftus said.

A squad from the warrants division was serving a summons for first-degree murder to Simms in the Liberty City neighborhood. Officers knew Simms, who has a lengthy criminal record, was inside the home and told him to come out, Loftus said.

All the officers were wearing body armor and had clear police identification on them, Loftus said.

Simms was wanted for his involvement in an October 2010 killing, Loftus said.

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MIAMI-DADE, FL – Two Miami-Dade police officers were shot and killed in a gunfight with suspects as they tried to serve a warrant for a violent fugitive in a Miami home Thursday morning. It was the first time in decades two law enforcement officers had been killed in the line of duty.

The dead male officer was identified as Roger Castillo. The female officer was tentatively identified as Amanda Haworth.

One suspect was killed in the gun battle. Another suspect is in custody, said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

Investigators say they’re not looking for any other suspects.

“We’re asking for the community’s prayers,’’ said Commander Nancy Perez, who broke down when she announced the news shortly before 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Details were sketchy, but this much was known: The shooting erupted between suspects and police at a home near Northwest Seventh Avenue and 69th Street.

Castillo died at the scene. The female officer died in surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Authorities shut down traffic on Interstate 95, as several other suspects reportedly fled the scene. Aerial helicopter shots showed two bodies covered, one under a blue tarp and another under a yellow tarp. Miami Fire Rescue transported two people about 11:20 a.m.

A multiple agency task force was working in the area serving a warrant for the city of Miami. At a County Commission meeting early Thursday, Commission Chair Joe Martinez announced that the county had lost one officer and a second had been airlifted to JMH.

Martinez said officers were serving a warrant on "career criminals’’ when the shooting occurred. Nearby schools were put on lockdown, including Thena Crowder Elementary School, 757 NW 66th St., and Little River Elementary School, 514 NW 77th St.