One dead and others injured as gunman targets Miami Beach spring break party

19 March 2023 , 13:05

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Crime scene tape is shown at the scene along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach (Image: AP)

Gunfire erupted in an area crowded with people on spring break, killing one person, wounding another and sending dozens scrambling for safety, police said.

Two males were shot Friday night along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida, and one person was detained at the scene, the Miami Beach Police Department tweeted.

It wasn’t clear if the person being held was the shooter. Police also said three guns were recovered.

The shooting happened on South Beach’s Ocean Drive, which is closed to vehicle traffic along its busiest stretch as hundreds of people gather to celebrate spring break.

One of the victims died at a hospital and the second person was listed in critical condition, police said.

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Their identities have not been released as of yet.

Dozens of people scrambled to get away from the gunfire, authorities said. Several blocks in the area were cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape.

The shooting is the second in as many years during spring break in South Beach. Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings also on Ocean Drive.

People were scattered as the gunshot erupted in Miami Beach on Friday night

The year before that, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns confiscated during a rowdy spring break that led Miami Beach officials to take steps aimed at calming the situation.

A witness told NBC 6 : "It is very devastating what happened, that someone passed away. People come here to have a good time, and it's just very sad what happened."

Another witness told CBS : "We were in Mangoes, and it was like, we saw a bunch of people kind of rush the door at the main entrance. Everybody was ducking and everybody in the restaurant. There was a shot.

"Everybody was scattering, ducking down, running to the sides of the restaurant."

College students have fun during their spring break in the South Beach area of Miami Beach (AP)

Earlier in the evening, tourists had their say about what they saw on Miami Beach.

"It's a big crowd," a college student from Atlanta named Crissy said.

"It's a lot of noise, and, too much chaos, especially at night."

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"There were cops around but it was not enough and they're not everywhere," a college student named Eliana from New Jersey said.

"It's always crowded," her friend Demiyah, also a college student from New Jersey, added.

Vassia Barba