FBI Miami shootout, 1986
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On April 11, 1986, a shootout occurred in Miami, Florida, between multiple FBI agents and two heavily armed suspects. Later known as the FBI Miami shootout, the firefight claimed the lives of two agents, Gerald Dove and Benjamin Grogan, as well as the two suspects, William Matix and Michael Platt. Five other agents were injured.
The incident is infamous: despite outnumbering the suspects, the agents found themselves pinned down by rifle fire, and the suspects survived repeated hits from handguns, and continued to fight.
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[edit] Background
The FBI agents were investigating a series of violent bank robberies, and had reason to believe the suspects drove a 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. On April 11, agents manned ten cars on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. At about 9 a.m., Grogan and Dove spotted the vehicle, and began to follow it. Several other cars joined them, and eventually an attempt was made to stop the suspect car, which was forced off the road. The shootout then began.
[edit] Weapons
- Suspects
- Ruger Mini-14 rifle
- S&W M586 .357 Magnum revolver
- Dan Wesson .357 Magnum revolver
- S&W M3000 12 gauge shotgun
- FBI
- Smith & Wesson .357 and .38 Special revolvers
- S&W 459 9mm pistols
- Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun
[edit] The shootout
Immediately after being forced off the road, Platt began firing the Mini-14 from the car, while Matix fired a single round from the shotgun. Matix was soon hit twice by the agents, and he apparently was knocked unconscious. He fired no more shots throughout the battle. Platt, however, had already injured two agents with the rifle.
Platt climbed out a car window, and was soon hit several times, yet he continued fighting, now firing a revolver. He also continued to use the rifle, despite injuries to his right hand and arm, and caused agents more injuries, including a shot to the neck.
Military-trained, Platt aggressively advanced on Grogan and Dove's car, which they (so far uninjured) were using for cover. Reaching their position, he continued firing the rifle. Platt killed Grogan with a shot to the chest, shot another agent in the groin, and then killed Dove with two shots to the head. Platt himself had been hit six times at this point.
Platt entered Grogan and Dove's car, apparently attempting escape. He was joined by Matix, who had regained consciousness and crawled unseen to Platt's position.
The fight was ended by agent Edmundo Mireles, who, despite having been hit in the arm by Platt's opening shots, stood up and advanced directly towards the car, shooting six rounds of .38 Special from his revolver, hitting Matix three times and Platt twice. Both were finally killed.
Toxicology tests showed that the astounding abilities of Platt and Matix to fight through multiple traumatic gun shot wounds and continue to battle and attempt to escape were not achieved through any chemical means. Both of their bodies were completely drug- and alcohol-free at the time of their deaths.
[edit] Aftermath
Alarmed by the perceived lack of stopping power the FBI's 9mm service pistols exhibited, they soon began the search to adopt a more powerful caliber. The Smith & Wesson 1076 10mm Auto was chosen as a direct result of the Miami shootout.
