Henry Malcolm McAleenan Jr., a 66-year-old white male, passed away on March 6, 2016, in Miami, FL. His death was the result of complications from a gunshot wound he sustained on August 21, 2000. On that day, Officer McAleenan and another officer responded to a residential alarm in the 16800 block of SW 147th Court. As they checked the perimeter of the home, two large dogs charged at them.
In an attempt to ward off the dogs, Officer McAleenan used his baton, while the other officer fired a round from her service weapon. Unfortunately, the bullet accidentally struck Officer McAleenan in the groin, damaging his femoral artery. Despite immediate medical attention and subsequent treatment, he experienced complications from the wound, which ultimately led to his death nearly 16 years later.
Officer McAleenan had a distinguished career, serving with the Miami-Dade Police Department for 33 years and previously with the Homestead Police Department for five years. He was survived by his daughter and grandson. His death was classified as a line-of-duty death due to the inadvertent gunfire incident.
There were no arrests, suspects, or litigations directly related to the incident that caused Officer McAleenan's death. The shooting was deemed accidental, and no charges were filed against the officer who discharged the weapon. The incident was thoroughly investigated, and it was concluded that the shooting was an unfortunate accident during a high-stress situation.
