A Miami police officer shot a naked man to death after he wouldn’t stop eating another naked man’s face on the MacArthur Causeway, authorities say.

The survivor, who police think may have been homeless and was lying down when attacked, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, according to the Miami Herald — whose building was next door to the scene of the crime and whose surveillance cameras showed the officer shooting the suspect on Saturday.

Police sources told CBS Miami that the victim had virtually no face and was unrecognizable.

The Miami Herald’s police sources recounted that a road ranger saw the man chewing on the other man’s face and ordered him to back off over a loudspeaker, and that another police officer soon approached the unidentified attacker.


“The officer, who has not been identified, approached and, seeing what was happening, also ordered the naked man to back away,” the Herald reported. “When he continued the assault, the officer shot him, police sources said. The attacker failed to stop after being shot, forcing the officer to continue firing. Witnesses said they heard at least a half dozen shots.”

Sgt. Altarr Williams, supervisor of the Miami police homicide unit, also told the Herald that a man doesn’t have to be armed to be dangerous. “There are other ways to injure people,’’ Williams said. “Some people know martial arts, others are very strong and can kill you with their hands.’’

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matt.pearce@latimes.com