A shirtless man who authorities said attempted to rob a Miami Beach bank before confronting police with a straight-edge razor was fatally shot by officers Saturday in front of stunned onlookers who captured the incident on video.
The shooting occurred after officials said the man entered a Bank of America branch on Alton Road around 10:30 a.m. and handed a note to a teller demanding money and threatening to detonate a bomb.
Police responded to a 911 call from the bank, but as officers arrived the suspect, who has not been identified, fled to a nearby barbershop. While inside the barbershop, he armed himself with a straight-edge razor, took his shirt off, and then exited where officers were awaiting outside.
"He was challenged by the officers in the street," Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates told reporters. "At some point during that confrontation he did raise his hand with a straight-edge razor in it and he was shot. One officer fired, we believe two shots."
The shooting took place on a busy street just blocks away from Art Basel, and in front of several witnesses who posted video of the incident online.
Oates said he was aware videos of the shooting had been posted on social media.
"If you slow those videos down you will see that weapon is raised at the moment the shot takes place," he said.
At least one of the officers involved in the shooting was also wearing a body camera, Oates said, but due to Florida law the video was not released. The shooting is being investigated by Miami-Dade Police Department.
The FBI said it was investigating the attempted bank robbery, during which no money was handed over to the suspect.
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine called the shooting a "horrible, isolated incident and tragic for everyone involved."