Video showing a deadly 2013 encounter between a Miami-Dade Police officer and a suspect who was trying to light a gas station on fire was released Tuesday.
Officer Mario Gutierrez was on patrol when he encountered 51-year-old Dominique Jean at the Shell station at Northwest 25th Street and LeJeune Road on Oct. 29, 2013.
Gutierrez confronted Jean, who was attempting to light a fire near one of the gas pumps. When Gutierrez approached him, Jean stabbed Gutierrez multiple times, according to police.
"He attacked me. He attacked me with a large knife and a screwdriver," Gutierrez said.
The video, released by Miami-Dade Police, shows the stabbing.
Despite extensive injuries, Gutierrez opened fire on Jean, who died at the scene, police said. Gutierrez was also able to hit the emergency stop button to the gas valves, which likely prevented an explosion.
Gutierrez recently watched the video for the first time since the incident. He recalled seeing Jean setting fire to newspapers while attempting to ignite the gas station through an underground access port.
"It was a very vicious fight," Gutierrez said. "I shut the pumps off, and my intention was to arrest him, take him to jail. So I was gonna Tase him, put him in handcuffs, call for fire."
Gutierrez was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he underwent surgery. In April, he was awarded the 2015 Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery.
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"Eighty percent of what I saw in the video I don't remember, so it was an opportunity to find closure to all these blanks, things that I had in my mind," he said.
Now back on duty, Gutierrez has no intention of giving up on the job he said he was born to do, "I love what I do. I love being a policeman. I love serving the community. It's a calling, it's a passion."
