Police Kill Suspected Cargo Thief

Undercover police in Miami stopped an alleged truck hijacking by killing a suspect and arresting two men believed to be his accomplices.

The Tactical Operation Multi-agency Cargo Anti-Theft Squad -- a task force of federal, state and local police set up last year to fight cargo theft -- received a tip that a tractor-trailer loaded with electronic goods at a warehouse near Miami International Airport would be stolen.

Task force members staked out at the area on June 9 and saw three men arrive just after midnight. Police said when they yelled for the suspects to stop, one pulled out a handgun. The officers opened fire and killed the man, whose name was not released.

His two suspected accomplices -- Francisco Ortiz of Hialeah, Fla., and Andre Bernard of North Miami -- were charged with felony murder in connection with the death. Florida law allows prosecutors to charge with murder the accomplices of suspects who are killed during the commission of a felony. Ortiz and Bernard also face charges of burglary and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.