Armed suspect accused in foot chase, vehicle pursuit, carjacking in Riviera Beach shot by police

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. - A Riviera Beach neighborhood was cordoned with crime scene tape Sunday afternoon after a city police officer said he was forced to shoot an armed man. Robert Robinson, 19, is accused in a foot chase, a vehicle pursuit and also a carjacking. The area of West 37th Street and Avenue R was being scoured by investigators after what began as a routine traffic stop on nearby Blue Heron Boulevard and then ended with an officer-involved shooting.

Riviera Beach police say two officers pulled a vehicle over in the 1200 block of Blue Heron Boulevard just before 3 p.m. They said a male passenger with a gun got out of that vehicle then fled on foot. Investigators said Robinson later carjacked another vehicle on Blue Heron Boulevard, driving through parts of West Palm Beach and back into Riviera Beach. Officers said they were following the vehicle the whole time.

Investigators said the armed suspect bailed out of the vehicle near Silver Beach Road and ran again, refusing to stop or put down his weapon. A police department spokesperson said that is when a officer shot the man. The suspect was taken to the hospital and was undergoing surgery but his condition and his identity are still unknown. No others were hurt.

It is unclear why the vehicle that Robinson was originally in was pulled over by police. Anytime an officer fires a weapon he or she is placed on paid administrative leave. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is now looking into this officer-involved shooting. Charges against the male suspect are expected to be filed soon.