Miami-Dade detective shot during drug bust released from hospital

John Saavedra shot several times

MIAMI – Miami-Dade Police detective John Saavedra was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital Wednesday, eight days after he was shot several times during a drug bust, police said.

Police said Saavedra received a tip about people at a house near SW 24th Street and 62nd Avenue who were operating a marijuana grow house.

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When the narcotics unit and FBI agents arrived, detectives began speaking to a man when another man, identified by police as Gerardo Delgado, who was sitting in a car parked at the house, began shooting. That's when Saavedra, 34, was hit with several shots from a Colt .45 handgun. In turn, other detectives started shooting. Saavedra was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Miami-Dade police said Delgado was shot and killed.

Saavedra will continue to recover at home and has asked for his privacy, Miami-Dade Police Detective Roy Rutland said. Rutland said Saavedra will continue to work in an undercover capacity.