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(Photo Source: FBI.gov)
It has been exactly thirty years since the infamous Miami Shootout between the FBI and two armed and determined felons.
Much as changed in three decades. However, much has remained that same. There are several lessons to be learned from that event.
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The Wikipedia Version- en.wikipedia.org
FBI Version- www.fbi.gov:
On the morning of April 11, 1986—25 years ago today—one of the deadliest and most violent shoot-outs in FBI history unfolded just outside of the city of Miami.
FBI agents were leading a massive manhunt for two violent bank robbers—later identified as Michael Lee Platt and William Russell Matix—who were known for using high-caliber firearms and stolen cars. They had murdered several people since the previous October, and Miami police and the FBI were closing in on them.
A placard in Miami honors Special Agents Jerry Dove and Benjamin Grogan
Miami Special Agents Benjamin Grogan and Jerry Dove—two of the eight agents ultimately directly involved in the firefight who were riding together in one of the five pursuing Bureau cars—noticed a stolen, black Monte Carlo connected to the two robbers and began following it.
Also in close pursuit and riding alone, Special Agent Richard Manauzzi tried to steer the Monte Carlo into a tree at the side of 12201 SW 82nd Avenue when he noticed one of the criminals aiming a weapon toward pursuing FBI agents. Three Bureau cars collided with the suspects and forced them off the road, but the felons opened fire.
The events unfolded quickly and horrifically. Special Agent Manauzzi was seriously wounded and immediately sought cover. Special Agent Gordon McNeill—also riding alone—was wounded, but returned fire, striking Matix. Special Agents Gilbert Orrantia and Ronald Risner were pinned in their vehicle on the other side of the street; Orrantia was wounded. Special Agents Edmundo Mireles and John Hanlon had also stopped their car on the opposite side of the street and came under high-powered rifle fire as they tried to approach the felons. Both were seriously wounded. Special Agents Dove and Grogan—despite wounding both criminals in the hail of bullets—were trapped in their car and killed when Platt fired at close range. Platt also shot and incapacitated Agent Hanlon.
In the end, the FBI’s casualties were higher than any shoot-out in its history: two dead, three seriously wounded, and two others injured. Only Agent Risner was unhurt.
In the aftermath of the gun battle, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies closely studied the incident. Although wounded, both Platt and Matix were able to continue firing their weapons at the surrounding agents. Our guns had not stopped them. Furthermore, the killers’ weapons were more powerful and their rounds could penetrate even the armored vests that some of the agents were wearing.
In response to this tragedy, the FBI made significant changes in the firepower carried by agents, the body armor they wore, and the incident response training they received.
Today, we honor not just Agents Dove and Grogan—and their colleagues injured that day—but all of the men and women of the FBI who have given their lives in the line of duty and put themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities. As Director Mueller said in a ceremony in Miami attended by former FBI Director William Webster, survivors of the shooting, and many others:
“It has been said that all great things are simple, and most can be expressed in a single word: fidelity, bravery, and integrity. Honor, duty, and sacrifice. But it is no simple matter to act on such words when every second counts and life hangs in the balance. The individuals we honor today embodied the true meaning of these words and what it means to be a special agent.”
Professor Paul Markel
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Great reminder. I was a senior in high school in Ft. Myers (about 3 hours away). I remember this vividly!
“high-caliber” “high-powered” what were they armed with?
Standard issue was 9mm and the revolvers were 357 magnums. You can EASILY see that hand guns were no solution to 223 out of Ruger Mini 14
It is all about multiple shots and accuracy. Had the guy not lost his glasses this would have been over in a few seconds but without the ability to see the FBI was in deed outgunned and out ammo-ed.
Don’t think for one second that bigger is better would have made the difference. I have used these videos for now going on 25 years to train my interdiction team and the moral of the story is to practice practice practice and that shot placement overshadows all other variables. Not the shot gun nor the 357 mag nor the repeated 9mm mattered when they ended up in arms feet legs and sides of skin. Had any of the finally fatal shots been upper center of mass this would never had hit the papers or been a training aid for 30 years.
Stop pretending that mass and velocity will take the place of proper 3D situational training. Shooting paper targets is a fun and expensive waste of time and effort. You need to be ready to instinctively act and that takes situational training as the agents here talked about
Dr D
Director Federal Drug Interdiction Task Force
Thanks Paul, a great reminder to always bring enough gun.
I really enjoyed this episode. It is my top episodes if I exclude celebrity interviews. Can’t believe that they had 38 special rounds in a 357 on duty CRAZY.
Leave to the government to than order up a whole new gun and scrap it. I love my 10 mm (s) for the Woods and carry an M&P 40 ( Have ordered a Bruce Jenner for it).
Great reminder. I was a senior in high school in Ft. Myers (about 3 hours away). I remember this vividly!
Great episode guys!
“high-caliber” “high-powered” what were they armed with?
For me a civilian the importance of shot placement stands out. After being hit numerous times the bad guys were able to continune to fight.
Maybe someone jcan help with a question. When did the FBI go to using carbines?
Thanks for this important lesson.
Thanks Paul, a great reminder to always bring enough gun.
I really enjoyed the flash back. Since the Professor loves history so much, I think you should make an SOTG Flash Back segment as standing monthly item on the program. As the saying goes, if you don’t study the past…you’re doomed to repeat it.
Folks at work were totally blown away at the fact I told them today is the 30th anniversary of the Miami shootout and the birth of the 40S&W cartridge…thanks Professor!!
Excellent show today. I was interested to hear Professor Paul’s explanation of this event.
This happened during my first ever visit to Florida. My buddies and I were hanging out in Fort Lauderdale and saw this on the news. We had earlier been thinking about checking out Miami, but after seeing this, we figured we were fine staying right where we were.
I really enjoyed this episode. It is my top episodes if I exclude celebrity interviews. Can’t believe that they had 38 special rounds in a 357 on duty CRAZY.
Leave to the government to than order up a whole new gun and scrap it. I love my 10 mm (s) for the Woods and carry an M&P 40 ( Have ordered a Bruce Jenner for it).
Great episode guys!
For me a civilian the importance of shot placement stands out. After being hit numerous times the bad guys were able to continune to fight.
Maybe someone jcan help with a question. When did the FBI go to using carbines?
Thanks for this important lesson.
I really enjoyed the flash back. Since the Professor loves history so much, I think you should make an SOTG Flash Back segment as standing monthly item on the program. As the saying goes, if you don’t study the past…you’re doomed to repeat it.
Folks at work were totally blown away at the fact I told them today is the 30th anniversary of the Miami shootout and the birth of the 40S&W cartridge…thanks Professor!!
Excellent show today. I was interested to hear Professor Paul’s explanation of this event.
This happened during my first ever visit to Florida. My buddies and I were hanging out in Fort Lauderdale and saw this on the news. We had earlier been thinking about checking out Miami, but after seeing this, we figured we were fine staying right where we were.
Another great show ! I remember the shootout but enjoyed the refresher on the facts. Keep it up guys!
Another great show ! I remember the shootout but enjoyed the refresher on the facts. Keep it up guys!
Wow, great history lesson, thank you. I was familiar with the shootout but did not know all of the details. Paul did a great job of telling the whole story.
Wow, great history lesson, thank you. I was familiar with the shootout but did not know all of the details. Paul did a great job of telling the whole story.
What a grueling incident. I can only imagine that I would be all butter fingers during such an event. That’s why training, training, and more training is soooo vital.
What a grueling incident. I can only imagine that I would be all butter fingers during such an event. That’s why training, training, and more training is soooo vital.