Holly MatkinMiami, FL – A 66-year-old convicted felon accused of burning his wife with a propane torch and hitting her with a minivan multiple times was shot while attempting to run over a Miami police officer, according to police.
The incident began at a residence located in the 1800-block of Northwest 10th Avenue at approximately 4:50 p.m. on May 24, the Miami Herald reported.
Investigators said the suspect, 66-year-old Jerry Sanders, got into a fight with his wife at the house and choked her, then pointed a lit propane torch at another woman who was at the home.
The second woman said the flames were close enough to her skin that she could feel the heat, according to police.
Sanders allegedly doused the second woman with gasoline, left her in the house, and set the front door on fire, the Miami Herald reported.
His wife had managed to get outside by that time, but Sanders found her and burned her with the lit propane torch, according to court documents.
When he spotted a bystander witnessing the attack, the suspect allegedly pointed the lit torch at him, police said.
Investigators said Sanders then jumped into his 2005 Dodge Caravan and used it to pin his wife up against a palm tree, the Miami Herald reported.
He proceeded to back up two times, hitting her repeatedly with the vehicle.
Police responded to the scene after receiving a report of a “domestic violence dispute” and saw the suspect running over his wife with the van, according to court documents.
The house was ablaze at the time, WFOR reported.
As they ran to stop him, Sanders turned his attention towards one of the officers and allegedly drove directly in his direction, the Miami Herald reported.
The officer was able to avoid being hit as he opened fire on the suspect, as did a second officer, according to WPLG.
Despite being shot, Sanders allegedly continued driving and struck one of the women with the van, the Miami Herald reported.
He fled the scene, but was apprehended after he crashed near 64th Street and Northwest First Place a short while later, the Miami Herald reported.
Sanders and at least one of the women injured in the attack were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center in the wake of the incident.
The woman was treated for second-degree burns to her arm and a fractured right leg, while Sanders was treated for a gunshot, the Miami Herald reported.
Police said he refused to speak with them without his lawyer present.
Sanders, who was previously convicted of using a firearm during the commission of a felony, has been arrested on charges of premeditated attempted murder, attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, arson, and aggravated battery, the Miami Herald reported.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is handling the ongoing investigation into the incident with the assistance of the Miami Police Department Internal Affair Section and Homicide Unit.
