Police in Miami Beach, Florida, are investigating the death of an 18-year-old graffiti artist who died after being shot with a Taser by police.

Israel Hernandez-Llach, a Colombian-born artist, known as "Reefa" was spray-painting a building in Miami Beach shortly before dawn on Tuesday.

Police claim he fled, ignoring commands to stop running, at which point an officer used his Taser electroshock gun.

Once in custody, the 18-year-old "displayed signs of medical duress" and was pronounced dead soon after