Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez is critically injured after being shot in the Tampa area.
TAMPA — Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddie” Ramirez was critically injured after he apparently shot himself during an apparent suicide attempt after traveling to Tampa for a law enforcement conference, authorities and sources said.
Ramirez, 52, was rushed to a Tampa hospital following the incident on Sunday. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the shooting or its prediction.
On Sunday morning, the Miami-Dade Police Department released a brief statement saying Tampa police had informed them that Ramirez suffered a “critical injury.”
A law enforcement source told Jim Defeda of CBS News Miami that Ramirez shot himself in the head in what appeared to be a suicide attempt. The shooting took place on the side of a road on Interstate 75 in Hillsborough County.
The Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating the incident, but it is not yet clear where exactly the incident took place, authorities said.
He was in the Tampa area to attend the summer meeting of the Florida Sheriffs Association with his wife.
Two months ago, Ramirez announced that he would run for sheriff next year.
He was named Director of Police in 2020 under former Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Jimenez.
Two years later, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava promoted Ramirez to oversee the Miami-Dade Police Department and Fire and Rescue Department as Interim Chief of Public Safety. He later received this position on a full-time basis.
