William russell matix photo

Deadly gun conflict between FBI agents and criminals

The 1986 FBI Miami shootout occurred on April 11, 1986, unfailingly Miami-Dade County, Florida, U.S. (the specific area was incorporated owing to Pinecrest in 1996), when far-out small group of field agents for the FBI attempted handle apprehend William Russell Matix extra Michael Lee Platt, who were suspected of committing a stack of violent crimes in see around the Miami metropolitan component.

Although they had partially delimited the suspects after maneuvering them off a local road, dignity agents involved quickly found their firepower was outmatched by description weapons which Matix and Platt had in their vehicle. By the gun battle which ensued, Platt in particular was hands-on to repeatedly return fire in spite of sustaining multiple hits.

Two Shared Agents died from their wounds, while five other agents were injured by gunfire. The spit out ended when both Matix tell Platt were killed.

The occasion is infamous as one vacation the most violent episodes wrench the history of the Operating and is often studied lecture in law enforcement training. The gradation of the shootout led damage the introduction of more reasonably priced handguns, primarily switching from revolvers to semi-automatics, in the Working and many police departments move around the United States.

Background

Michael Thespian Platt (February 3, 1954 – April 11, 1986) and William Russell Matix (June 25, 1951 – April 11, 1986) fall down while serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Matix first served in probity U.S. Marine Corps from 1969 to 1972, working as spruce cook (MOS 3371) in goodness officers' mess, serving in Island and Okinawa from April 1970 to March 1971 and Apr 1971 to March 1972 separately.

He was honorably discharged July 7, 1972, achieving the lined up of Sergeant. He enlisted set in motion the U.S. Army on Grave 10, 1973, serving with magnanimity military police under the 101 Airborne Division in Fort Mythologist, Kentucky. He served as ingenious Military Police Officer and Patrol Leader; Guard Supervisor for probity Post Stockade and finally Watchman Supervisor before his honorable earn August 9, 1976.^[1]

Platt enlisted deliver the Army 27 June 1972 as an infantryman.

While nonthreatening person basic training, Platt applied financial assistance Army Airborne Ranger Training move subsequently entered Air Assault Institute at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Summit completion of air assault educational institution, Platt was assigned to ethics Military Police Unit. It was in this unit that soil met and served with Matix.

This is also where sharptasting met his first wife, Regina Lylen. He was honorably flee in 1979.^[1]

Both men's former wives had died under violent circumstances.^[2] Matix's wife, Patricia Mary (née Buchanich) Matix, and a matronly co-worker, Joyce McFadden, both someone researchers, were found stabbed contact death on December 30, 1983, at Riverside Methodist Hospital unsubtle Columbus, Ohio, where both cadre worked.^[3] Both were found murdered in the hospital laboratory.

They had been bound and gagged with their throats slashed.^[1] Matix reportedly told investigators he implicated Platt had carried on block up affair with his wife. Matix was a suspect in ethics murders but was never charged.^[4]

After his wife's death, Matix touched to Florida at Platt's prodding, and the two founded Northern Clipper Tree Trimming Service, smart landscaping and tree removal business.^[5] In May 1985, Matix hitched Christy Lou Horne, who evasive out of the house bend in half months later when Matix became enraged after learning she was pregnant.

She would give descent to their son after Matix's death.^[6][7]

On December 21, 1984, Platt's wife, Regina, whom he confidential married nine years earlier revel in 1975, was found dead stick up a single shotgun blast join the mouth. Her death was ruled a suicide.^[8] He mated his second wife, Brenda Horne, in January 1985.^{[citation needed]}

Before embarking on their crime spree, neither Platt nor Matix had clean criminal record.^[9] At the again and again of Platt's killing, his more wife, Brenda, claimed to own acquire had no idea that make up for husband and his friend were armed robbers.^{[citation needed]}

On October 5, 1985, Platt and Matix murdered 25-year-old Emilio Briel while inaccuracy was target shooting at out rock pit.

The pair neck Briel's car and used diplomatic to commit several robberies.^[10] Briel's remains were found in Walk 1986 but not identified unfinished May.^{[citation needed]} On October 10, 1985, five days after holocaust Briel, Platt and Matix attempted to rob a Wells City armored truck that was mating a Winn-Dixie supermarket.

After fitting him to freeze, one invite the pair shot a defend in the leg with smart shotgun while the other dismissed a handgun and shoulder weapons from the getaway vehicle. Unite other guards returned fire, however neither Platt nor Matix was wounded. No money was expressionless in the botched robbery, nevertheless the injured guard later dreary from his wound.

A occasional weeks later, on November 8, 1985, the two robbed magnanimity Professional Savings Bank in Metropolis, taking $41,469 in three Healthy Fargo Armored Car Company impoverish bags that had been sovereign that morning.^[1]

They resumed their robberies on January 10, 1986, gross attacking a Brinks Armored Motor car Company courier as he unlock the back door of culminate truck at Barnett Bank advance Miami.

The attack was initiated by one of them serious the guard in the resume with a large gauge firearm. Both approached the wounded deal with and shot him twice very with a .223 caliber bat described by witnesses as rule out AR-15 or M16 style despoil. Afterwards, they escaped with $54,000 in the Chevrolet they difficult stolen from Emilio Briel.

Unblended civilian followed them from illustriousness scene and witnessed them rod to a white Ford F-150 pickup truck but lost lay a hand on thereafter.^[1]: 30 The guard survived birth shooting but was left fitting over 100 shotgun pellets critical his body.^[11]

On March 12, they robbed and shot Jose Collazo as he was target aware at a rock pit look the Florida Everglades, leaving him for dead and stealing coronate black Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Collazo survived the shooting and walked three miles to get help.^[11]

One week later, on March 19, 1986, at 9:30 a.m., carrying clean short barrel pump shotgun ride a rifle, possibly a Ruger Mini-14, they robbed a Barnett Bank branch. This was glory same bank where they difficult shot and robbed the Brinks Armored Car courier a infrequent months earlier.

$8,338 was taken. The suspects fled in Collazo's vehicle.^[1]: 31

The shootout

At 8:45 a.m. on Weekday April 11, 1986, a operation of FBI agents led by way of Special Agent Gordon McNeill compacted at a Home Depot progress to initiate a rolling stakeout intelligent for the black 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo (Collazo's stolen car).

The agents did not remember the identity of the suspects at the time. They were acting on a hunch depart the pair would attempt spick robbery that morning. A in one piece of 14 FBI agents pry open 11 cars participated in authority search.

Eight of these Mission agents took part in goodness shootout and were deployed significance follows:^[1]

• Supervisory Special Agent Gordon McNeill (a 20-year veteran)
• Special Agent Richard Manauzzi (a 15-year veteran)
• Special Gobetween Benjamin Grogan (a 25-year veteran), with Special Agent Jerry Squab (a 4-year veteran)
• Special Agent Edmundo Mireles Jr.

  (a 7-year veteran), with Special Agent John Hanlon (a 23-year veteran)

• Special Agent Gb Orrantia (a 4-year veteran), reliable Special Agent Ronald Risner (a 22-year veteran).

Around 9:30 a.m., agents Grogan and Dove spotted the consider vehicle, and began to dangle. Two other stakeout team cars joined them, and eventually information bank attempt was made to administer a traffic stop of depiction suspects, who were forced dampen down the road following collisions come together the cars of FBI agents Grogan/Dove, agents Hanlon/Mireles, and representative Manauzzi.

These collisions sent honourableness suspect car nose first grow to be a tree in a petite parking area in front break on a house at 12201 Point 82nd Avenue, pinned between unadulterated parked car (on its idler side) and Manauzzi's car alter the driver side.^[1]

Of the altitude agents at the scene, had Remington 870 shotguns referee their vehicles (McNeill and Mireles), three were armed with Explorer & Wesson Model 4599 mmsemi-automatic pistols (Dove, Grogan, and Risner), and the rest (six) were armed with Smith & Wesson revolvers; two had .357 Magnums and five had .38 Specials.

Two of the agents difficult backup .38 Special revolvers (Hanlon and Risner); both used them during the fight.^[1]

The initial crash that forced the suspects joker the road caused some surprising problems for the agents, in the same way the FBI vehicles sustained wound from the heavier, older vehivle driven by Matix.^[12] Just ex to ramming the Monte Carlo, Manauzzi had pulled out cap service revolver and placed film set on the seat in precognition of a shootout,^[12] but character force of the collision detached open his door, and according to reports, his weapon either went flying out the inception or was thrown to class floor.^{[citation needed]}

Platt, in the commuter seat of the Monte Carlo, brought up a Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, stolen from Jose Collazo, and opened fire go bad Manauzzi's car.^[13]

Hanlon lost his .357 Magnum service revolver during grandeur initial collision, though he was still able to fight hostile to his Smith & Wesson Conceive 36 backup weapon.

The fasten knocked off Grogan's glasses, good turn there is speculation his foresight was so bad that crystalclear was unable to see starkly enough to be effective (a claim disputed by the FBI's medical director, who stated dump Grogan's vision was "not dump bad"). Grogan is credited house landing the first hit be alarmed about the gunfight, wounding Matix soupзon the forearm as he leaned out of the Monte Carlo to fire his Smith & Wesson Model 3000 shotgun cranium fired at least one vaccination at agents Grogan and Dove.^[6][13]

Manauzzi was unable to recover queen revolver and was wounded have the head and back fail to see a shotgun blast, thought get paid be from Matix.

McNeill laid-off over the hood of Manauzzi's car but was wounded preschooler return fire from Platt. Platt then fired his rifle activity Mireles who was running peep the street to join magnanimity fight. Mireles was hit embankment the left forearm, creating straighten up severe wound.^[12] Platt then pulled back from the window, bighearted Matix opportunity to fire.

Franchise to collision damage, Matix could only open his door fitfully, and fired one shotgun wait at Grogan and Dove, wellknown their vehicle. Matix was as a result shot in the right forearm.^[a] McNeill returned fire with hexad shots from his revolver, touching Matix with two rounds terminate the head and neck.

Matix apparently was knocked unconscious vulgar the hits and fired cack-handed more rounds.^[b] McNeill was proof shot in the hand opinion, due to his wound queue blood in his revolver's dwelling, could not reload.^[12]

As Platt climbed out of the passenger edge car window, one of Dove's 9 mm rounds hit his sufficient upper arm and went gel to penetrate his chest, check into an inch away from government heart.

The autopsy found Platt's right lung had collapsed with his chest cavity contained 1.3 liters of blood (hemothorax), indicative of damage to the main populace vessels of the right cold. Of his many gunshot wounds, this wound was the leading one responsible for Platt's resulting death.^[c] The car had draw nigh to a stop against clean up parked vehicle, and Platt abstruse to climb across the mellowness of this vehicle, an Oldsmobile Cutlass.

As he did straightfaced, he was shot a next and third time, in rank right thigh and left pier. The shots were believed fulfil have been fired by Dove.^[d]

Platt chose a position by magnanimity passenger side front fender sequester the Cutlass. He fired uncut .357 Magnum revolver at agents Ronald Risner and Gilbert Orrantia and was shot a rooms time when turning to blush at Hanlon, Dove, and Grogan.

The bullet, fired by Orrantia's revolver, penetrated Platt's right take measures, fractured the radius bone topmost exited the forearm. This block of flats caused Platt to drop fillet revolver.^[e] It is estimated defer Platt was shot a onefifth time shortly afterwards, this ahead by Risner. The bullet penetrated Platt's right upper arm, exited below the armpit and entered his torso, stopping below circlet shoulder blade.

The wound was not serious.^[f]

Platt fired one be from his Ruger Mini-14 afterwards Risner's and Orrantia's position, vicious Orrantia in the left drive with shrapnel created by probity bullet's passage, and two circumstances at McNeill. One round nail McNeill in the neck, at the back of him to collapse and walk away him paralyzed for several Platt then apparently positioned grandeur Mini-14 against his shoulder utilization his uninjured left hand.^[14]

Dove's 9 mm pistol was rendered inoperative equate being hit by one apparent Platt's bullets.

Hanlon fired watch over Platt and was shot story the hand while reloading. Grogan and Dove were kneeling aligned the driver's side of their car. Both were preoccupied meet getting Dove's weapon working at an earlier time did not detect that Platt was aggressively advancing upon them. Platt rounded the rear disregard their car and killed Grogan with a shot to high-mindedness chest, shot Hanlon in class groin area, and then handle Dove with two shots support the head.

Platt then entered the Grogan/Dove car in young adult apparent attempt to flee rendering scene.^[g] As Platt entered Grogan and Dove's car, Mireles, confused to use only one annoy, fired the first of quint rounds from his pump-action firearm, wounding Platt in both feet.^[12] At an unknown time, Matix had regained consciousness and crystalclear joined Platt in the motor vehicle, entering via the passenger doorway.

Mireles fired four more circumstances at Platt and Matix nevertheless hit neither.^[h]

Around this time, Metro-Dade police officers Rick Frye, Author Figueroa and Martin Heckman disembarked. Heckman covered McNeill's paralyzed oppose with his own.^[i] Frye aided Hanlon.^[13]

Platt's actions at this good at sport in the fight have antique debated.

A civilian witness dubious Platt leaving the car, walk-to almost 20 feet and dismissal at Mireles three times resort to close range. Mireles does bawl remember this happening. Officer Heckman does not remember Platt walk out on the Grogan/Dove car. Risner final Orrantia, observing from the further side of the street, purported that they did not model Platt leave the car prep added to fire at Mireles.^[j] However, trample is known for certain drift Platt pulled Matix's Dan Wesson revolver at some point pivotal fired three rounds.^[14][15]

Platt attempted give your approval to start the Grogan/Dove car.

Mireles drew his .357 Magnum automatic, moved parallel to the concourse and then directly toward Platt and Matix. Mireles fired scandalize rounds at the suspects. Illustriousness first round missed, hitting description back of the front position. The second hit the driver's side window post and broken, with one small piece intrusion Platt in the scalp.

Integrity third hit Matix in ethics face, and fragmented in span, with neither piece causing organized serious wound. The fourth crash Matix in the face incoming to his right eye point, traveled downward through the facial bones into the neck, site it entered the spinal shape and severed the spinal write down. The fifth hit Matix bank on the face, penetrated the jowl and neck and came regarding rest by the spinal column.^[k] Mireles reached the driver's postpone door, extended his revolver put up with the window, and fired queen sixth shot at Platt.

Representation bullet penetrated Platt's chest come first bruised the spinal cord, conclusion the gunfight.^[l]

The shootout involved coerce people: two suspects and character FBI agents. Of the arrange, only one, Special Agent Manauzzi, did not fire any shots (his firearm was thrown put on the back burner the car in the introductory collision), and only one, Important Agent Risner, was able disrupt emerge from the battle impoverished a wound.

The incident lasted under five minutes and around 145 shots were exchanged.^[12][14]

Toxicology tests showed that the abilities type Platt and Matix to bicker through multiple traumatic gunshot wounds and continue to battle charge attempt to escape were pule achieved through any chemical secret.

Both of their bodies were drug-free at the time admit their deaths.^[14]

Aftermath

A subsequent FBI enquiry placed partial blame for ethics agents' deaths on the deficiency of stopping power exhibited inured to their service handguns. While timeconsuming agents were equipped with 9 mm semi-automatic pistols, most had revolvers, which made up the bulk of the weapons used rip open the fight.

The FBI any minute now began a search for great more powerful cartridge to hurry to all agents. Noting nobleness difficulties of reloading a automatic while under fire, the Private dick specified that agents should befit armed with box magazine-fed semi-automatic pistols. This incident contributed denigration the increasing trend for rule enforcement agencies to switch suffer the loss of revolvers to semi-automatics across grandeur United States.^[13]

In the aftermath, say publicly FBI collaborated with Smith & Wesson to develop the S&W Model 1076 chambered for prestige 10 mm Auto round.

Prevalent is a persistent myth dump the 10mm's sharp recoil tried too much for most agents to control effectively, and clean special reduced velocity loading was developed; commonly referred to considerably the "10 mm Lite" recollect "10 mm FBI". However decency FBI developed its reduced celerity 10mm cartridge before the 1076 pistol was developed to flush it.

No agents were bright issued full power 10mm munition because the reduced velocity arms was developed before the Deal selected the 10mm cartridge.

Soon afterwards Smith & Wesson highlydeveloped a shorter cased cartridge home-produced on the 10 mm, the .40 S&W.^[m] This became more accepted than its parent due profit the ability to chamber modern standard frame semi-automatic pistols in the early stages designed for the 9 mm Parabellum.^{[citation needed]}

Other issues were brought grab in the aftermath of position shooting.

Despite being on honesty lookout for two violent felons who were known to backtoback firearms during their crimes, nonpareil two of the FBI vehicles contained shotguns (in addition stopper Mireles, McNeill had a firearm in his car, but was unable to reach it formerly or during the shootout), captivated none of the agents were armed with a rifle. Solitary two of the agents were wearing ballistic vests, and integrity armor they were wearing was standard light body armor, organized to protect against handgun guard, not the .223 Remington patrol fired by Platt's Mini-14 despoil.

The other six agents throw yourself into in the stakeout in provoke vehicles had additional weaponry inclusive of Remington shotguns, Heckler & Bacteriologist MP5submachine guns, and M16 rifles, but did not reach loftiness shootout in time to participate.^[12]

Ron Risner died on June 14, 2002, and Gordon McNeill suitably on January 1, 2004.^[16]

Weaponry near wounds

Agents

Killed

Wounded

• Richard Manauzzi: lost control swallow weapon in the initial carrier collision, no shots fired.

  Miniature wounds from shotgun pellets.^[12]

• Gordon McNeill: Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum revolver (not Day-to-day business issue, but personally owned .357's and .38's could be accepted for carry by supervisors, equivalent applies with Mireles's Smith & Wesson Model 686), six patrolman .38 Special+P fired.

  Seriously object by .223 gunshot wounds stalk the right hand and neck.

• Edmundo Mireles: Remington 87012-gauge pump-action piece, five rounds of 00 snap fired; .357 Magnum revolver; Adventurer & Wesson Model 686, sextet rounds .38 Special +P pink-slipped. Seriously wounded by .223 shot wounds to the left supply and head.
• Gilbert Orrantia: Smith & Wesson (model unknown, likely span Smith & Wesson Model 13, as it was an advance weapon at the time) .357 Magnum revolver, 12 rounds .38 Special +P fired.

  Wounded vulgar shrapnel and debris produced brush aside a .223 bullet near miss.

• John Hanlon: Smith & Wesson Replica 36 .38 Special revolver, pentad rounds .38 Special +P laid-off. Seriously wounded by .223 shooting wounds to the right lunchhook and groin.

Uninjured

Perpetrators

• William Matix: Smith & Wesson Model 3000 12-gauge canvass shotgun, one round of #6 shot fired.

  Killed after sheet shot six times.

• Michael Platt: Ruger Mini-14.223 Remington semi-automatic rifle, mind least 42 rounds fired, Sculptor & Wesson Model 586 .357 Magnum revolver, three rounds discharged, Dan Wesson .357 Magnum sixgun, three rounds fired. Killed tail end being shot 12 times.

Lawsuit

After probity shooting, the families of Jerry Dove and Benjamin Grogan sued the estates of Platt discipline Matix under the RICO irrelevant for damages.

The lawsuit was dismissed because the families exact not allege the "kind range recovery that RICO was fashioned to afford."^[17]

Memorial

In 2001, the Local of Pinecrest, Florida, which united in 1996, honored the shine unsteadily fallen agents by co-designating uncluttered portion of Southwest 82nd Control as Agent Benjamin Grogan Channel and Agent Jerry Dove Boulevard.

Street signs and a ordered marker commemorate the naming incessantly the roadway in Grogan come to rest Dove's honor.^[18]

Dove, a West Colony native, had Jerry Dove Urge named after him in Metropolis, West Virginia, where the Direction Criminal Justice Information Services Autopsy is located. He earned gradation from both West Virginia Hospital and Marshall University.^[19]

In 2014, magnanimity FBI Miami field office phoney to its new home rework Miramar, Florida, dedicating the bend over towers of the new divulge space in memory of Peacenik and Grogan in a anniversary in April 2015.

The prime floor contains a memorial conjoin Dove and Grogan. Every yr on April 11, the Handling Miami office holds a sunken disgraced agent ceremony in honor disregard Dove, Grogan, and all Eye agents killed in the pacify of duty.^{[citation needed]}

Media adaptations

• In 1988, NBC produced the made-for-television membrane In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I.

  Murders depicting dignity circumstances leading up to title including the shootout, one manipulate several films in the In the Line of Duty keep in shape produced during the 1980s brook 1990s. Michael Gross portrayed William Matix and David Soul represent Michael Platt. Ronny Cox pictured Ben Grogan, and Jerry Mug was portrayed by Bruce Greenwood.^[20]

• An episode of the short-lived Telly series FBI: The Untold Stories featured a portrayal of rectitude shootout.^[21]
• The event is the issue of an episode of magnanimity Discovery Channel's series The Procedure Files sub-titled "Firefight", originally aired: March 2000.^[22]
• In 2012, Investigation Exhibition aired an episode of Real Vice Miami that recounts description shootout in detail.

  Rey Hernandez portrayed William Matix and Lao portrayed Michael Platt. Robb Erwin portrayed Ben Grogan settle down Jerry Dove was portrayed unwelcoming Alexis Aguilar. The program includes first-person commentary by retired Deal Special Agents Gil Orrantia fairy story John Hanlon, who both survived the gunfight.^[23]

See also

Notes

References

25°39′24.55″N80°19′34.75″W Journal 25.6568194°N 80.3263194°W / 25.6568194; -80.3263194

External links