NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. – A teen was transported to the hospital after police were forced to open fire in Northwest Miami-Dade.

Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop near the area of Northwest 55th Street and 22nd Avenue around 12:45 a.m., Sunday, when the driver, 15-year-old Vito Corleone-Venisee, refused to pull over and crashed.

Occupants of the vehicle fled on foot in different directions. A Miami-Dade Police sergeant pursued the teen driver.

A confrontation occurred between the sergeant and the teen. The sergeant opened fire.

The teen was struck, and was transported to Holtz Children’s hospital in critical condition.

“There was an assault rifle inside of the vehicle as well,” said Miami-Dade Police Department Detective Alvaro Zabaleta. “Tonight could have very easily been a tragic night for law enforcement family, as these individuals were driving around for one, a 15-year-old driving a car, and secondly, a 15-year-old armed with a handgun. An assault rifle inside of that vehicle, wanted for possession of firearms. These are individuals that clearly are up to no good.”

The remaining occupants remain at large.

The sergeant was uninjured.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.