Two Dead in Miami Beach Shooting

Around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night at Second Street and Ocean Drive, a nasty disagreement regarding a parking space took place. This situation escalated quickly, as one man pulled out a gun and fired two or three shots, according to Miami police. There were two men hit by bullets, one was pronounced dead Monday morning at Jackson Memorial hospital, while the other was treated and released.

A white BMW with four people inside fled the scene, however, after speaking to witnesses, the cops were able to catch up to the car at Alton and Second Street. The chase was ended at Sixth Street, where police confronted the suspects. One of the suspects was shot by Miami Beach officers and later died at Jackson Memorial. Two of the other suspects were taken into custody and another fled the scene but was found by a police dog 90 minutes later.

Miami Beach police are now investigating the incident as a homicide. They recovered a gun and are searching the area where the suspect was found to see if any other weapons were left behind.

The names of those killed and arrested have yet to be released, however, officials are confident that the suspect is in custody. The type of firearm found at the scene has also not been specified by police, nor has the names of the officers who fired their guns.

The disturbance occurred after the end of an eventful Sunday in Miami Beach, where the Air and Sea Show took place and many enjoyed the Urban Beach Week festival.

Commissioners Ricky Arriola and Micheal Greico thanked emergency personnel who responded to the scene, and spoke of plans to introduce legislation that will limit nightlife during Memorial Day weekend in the future, potentially including rolling back time for nightclub and bar closures.

Greico called Urban Beach Week- which has for many years been a controversial event that has generated excessive traffic, drunken disturbances, and a large police presence- “a thing of the past” that will no longer be tolerated.

While it is true that Urban Beach Week brings a large number of minorities to the area, Greico insists that “This is not a black and white issue” but instead “This is a right or wrong issue.”

Police have not yet commented on whether or not the four suspects arrested in this shooting were in Miami Beach specifically to attend events in relation to Urban Beach Week, but the yearly event has been known to generate violence in the past.

In several comments from politicians regarding the Sunday night shooting, a conversation about how to prevent violence during the heavy tourist weekend has been started.

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