MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA: A terrifying hostage situation unfolded on Thursday, July 27, at Victoria's Secret store located at 901 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, Florida, resulting in the fatal shooting of an escaped convict.
Who was Darien Young?
The suspect, identified as Darien Young, 29, had managed to break free from a minimum-security transitional housing unit in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections one week prior to the incident. Young had been serving time for drug charges, falsifying physical evidence, and receiving stolen property, according to state DOC records.
Six days after his escape from the Calumet House transitional housing unit, Young found himself nearly 1,500 miles away in Miami Beach. At approximately 5:30 pm on July 27, police received a distress call reporting a disturbance at the Victoria's Secret store on Lincoln Road and Jefferson Avenue. Responding officers immediately commenced evacuations of nearby stores to ensure the safety of shoppers and employees.
Witnesses describe the horrifying scene
Inside the store, Young was caught shoplifting lingerie and resorted to violence to avoid capture. Brandishing a knife, he violently seized a young woman and her mother as hostages, terrifying other customers and employees present in the store. Gripping video footage captured the intense hostage situation as Young held the victims behind the store's checkout counter. Speaking to Local 10, a witness described the desperation of the situation, stating that Young repeatedly shouted, "I'm gonna kill her, I'm gonna kill her, don't make me hurt her, don't make me hurt her."
The young woman's daughter stood close by, clasping her hands in prayer, as officers arrived on the scene. One witness, Shanell Santiago, who worked nearby, recounted the moment she heard gunshots. "I was able to hear the gunshots. I heard the sound. I thought I was mesmerized a little bit," she told NBC 6. "I was like, maybe it's in my head right now. I didn't have music on. So it was clear as day. It was like four or five shots. I already know it's something major. Could be a hostage situation."
Officer's heroic confrontation
Officer Corey Jackson, a veteran on the police force, was among the officers responding to the distress call. Jackson bravely confronted Young, attempting to reason with the desperate man and urging him to put down the knife to end the dangerous situation peacefully. Video evidence captured Officer Jackson trying to de-escalate the tense standoff, saying, "Put it down man, please put it down," as he kept his handgun at his hip. However, Young refused to comply, continuing to pose an imminent threat to the hostages and bystanders.
In a tragic turn of events, Officer Jackson was left with no choice but to take action in self-defense and in the interest of protecting innocent lives. He opened fire, discharging his weapon to neutralize the immediate danger posed by Young. Young was immediately rushed to a local hospital for medical attention, but he succumbed to his injuries later that evening, leading to his death. The New Hampshire Department of Corrections confirmed Young's identity and his status as an escaped convict who had fled the state on July 21, just one week before the fatal encounter in Miami Beach. In the aftermath of the tragic incident, fellow officers offered support and consolation to Officer Jackson, recognizing the difficult decision he had to make in the line of duty.
Investigation and ongoing concerns
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement initiated a standard investigation into the shooting, ensuring a transparent and thorough examination of the events leading up to the hostage situation and the subsequent use of force by Officer Jackson. The identities of the hostages involved in the harrowing ordeal have not been released by authorities to protect their privacy. Authorities are also urging anyone with additional information about Darien Young's escape from the New Hampshire prison and the circumstances that led him to Miami Beach to come forward to aid in the investigation.
