A breakdown of the 1986 Miami shooting

I don’t think people realize just how much the 1986 Miami shooting changed law enforcement and its basic principles still apply today. This shooting occurred on April 11^th, 1986 in Dade County, Florida and it involved a small group of FBI agents who were trying to apprehend William Russell Matix and Michael Lee Platt. Both of these males were suspects of committing a series of violent crimes, specifically bank robberies, in and around the Miami area. What unfolded was a massive shooting that involved over 150 rounds of ammunition and lasted approximately 5 minutes. 

The FBI were aware that the suspects who were unknown at the time were driving a stolen black 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and on April 11^th, 1986, were out searching for it. They did not have any intel but were acting on a hunch that the pair would attempt a robbery that morning based on their other incidents. 

At around 9:30am, two FBI agents, Grogan and Dove, located the suspect vehicle and begin to follow it. Two other FBI agents join them and they eventually attempt to conduct a traffic stop by forcing the suspect vehicle off the road. The collision sends the Monte Carlo nose first into a tree at a small parking lot located at 12201 Southwest 82^ndAvenue. The suspect vehicle is pinned between a parked car and an FBI vehicle.

This forced collision would cause some problems for the FBI agents. For starters, Agent Manauzzi whose vehicle was pinning the suspect vehicle after impact, had pulled out his service revolve and placed it on the seat prior to the collision. Agent Manauzzi was anticipating a shootout with the suspects and believed having his gun on the seat would give him an advantage. Unfortunately, the collision flung open his door and caused his gun to either go flying out the door or be thrown to the floor. FBI Agent Manauzzi would be shot by one of the suspects in the head and back.

Another agent, FBI agent Hanlon, also lost his service revolver in the collision but was able to pull out a backup gun. At the same time, another FBI Agent Grogan, had his glasses knocked off in the collision which wouldn’t have been so bad had his vision not been terrible. Other FBI agents arrived on scene and began to rush the crash scene and engage the shooters. Unfortunately, there was not much cover available and FBI Agent Mireles was hit while running across the street to join the fight. FBI Agent Platt observed Mireles get hit and pulled back from the window giving one of the suspects, Matix, the opportunity to fire. Due to the collision, Matix’s door could only be open partially. This allowed FBI Agent McNeil to take a more advantageous firing position and he was able to hit Matix with two rounds in the head and neck. Almost immediately, Agent McNeil is shot in the hand which begins to bleed and clogs his revolver’s chambers preventing him from reloading.

Agent Dove was able to shoot the other suspect, Platt, as he climbed out of the passenger side window. Platt continued out the window and across the hood of a parked vehicle where he was shot more times by Agent Dove. He fell down by the passenger side front fender of the parked car and exchanged more gun fire. Agents Risner and Orrantia shot at Platt and struck him causing him to drop his revolver. Platt was shot again but able to grab his other gun, a Ruger Mini-14, and fired back striking Agent Orrantia in the left shoulder and hitting Agent McNeil in the neck.

Agent Dove attempted to engage Platt further but his 9mm pistol was rendered in operatable from being hit by one of Platt’s bullets. Agent Hanlon shot at Platt but was then shot himself in the hand while reloading. Agent Grogan and Dove were kneeling alongside the driver’s side door of their vehicle attempting to get Dove’s gun working. They did not detect that Platt was advancing towards them and he quickly rounded the rear of their vehicle and shot Agent Grogan in the chest killing him. He then shot Agent Hanlon in the groin area and then Agent Dove in the head, killing him. Platt then entered Agent Grogan and Dove’s vehicle to leave but Agent Mireles was able to use only one arm to shoot his pump-action shotgun at Platt striking him in both of his feet. 

At this time, Matix regained consciousness and got into the vehicle with Platt through the passenger door. Metro-Dade police began arriving and assisting the injured FBI agents. Platt continued to attempt to get the FBI vehicle to drive while Agent Mireles drew his .357 Magnum and moved parallel to the street. He faced directly towards Platt and Matix and fired several rounds at them, finally killing them both. Out of 8 FBI agents, only one agent escaped without a wound and every FBI Agent fired at least one weapon except for Agent Manuzzi who lost his revolver in the collision.

The lessons learned for law enforcement

The entire incident left law enforcement with several lessons and resulted in the FBI as well as agencies across the country changing practices and policies. The key lessons were as follows:

1. Toxicology tests of Platt and Matix revealed they were drug free. This showed law enforcement that suspects can fight through traumatic gunshot wounds just off adrenaline. This is believed to have given birth to the idea of “shoot until the threat is stopped”.
2. The FBI agents weapons lacked stopping power. Even though the FBI was transitioning to 9mm semi-automatic pistols, most of them still had revolvers. 
3. Reloading in a gun battle is the difference between life and death. There were several instances where weapon systems carried by the FBI agents failed and they struggled to work through the stoppages. The FBI agents were also using revolvers which take more time, finer motor muscles skills, and carry a smaller amount of ammo. 
4. A rifle or shotgun is key in a gun fight. Even though the FBI knew they were looking for two suspects who were violent and armed they only had two shotguns. One of the shotguns were in the back of a vehicle and the FBI agent could not get to it. Other agents had a Heckler & Koch MP5 and M16 rifles but could not get to them in the gun fight. Proper training on shotguns and vehicle close quarter shooting could have ended this gun fight much earlier on. 
5. Ballistic vests save lives. Again, even though the FBI were looking for violent and armed suspects they only had two agents wearing ballistic vests.

Stay safe!

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