9 Injured in Shooting Near Beach in Hollywood, Florida
Nine people, comprising of six adults and three children between the ages of 1 and 17, were injured on Monday evening when a chaotic situation erupted along a beachside promenade in Hollywood, Florida, resulting in terrified individuals scrambling to find refuge on the thronged beach for the Memorial Day festivities.
Deanna Bettineschi, a police spokesperson, declared that four of the injured victims were minors and five were adults between the ages of 25 and 65, with one undergoing surgery late Monday. As of yet, it was unclear if a 17-year-old was being classed as an adult.
Bettineschi revealed that the shooting had occurred close to 7 p.m. A fight between numerous people broke out, at least one firearm was brought into play and multiple shots were fired. An individual has been detained thus far but authorities are still searching for additional suspects.
Chief Chris O’Brien shared that thousands of people were in the area at the time of the shooting and dozens of police officers had to respond to the situation, including a number that had already been nearby. He noted how it was a regrettable reality that people were spending their day innocently on the beach, only for it to be disturbed by a gang of delinquents.
The shooting occurred at the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk in the vicinity of a convenience store, a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream store and a Subway sandwich shop. Alvie Carlton Scott III and Jamie Ward, who were both at the broadwalk when the gunfire broke out, described the event as young men exchanging blows until one of them produced a gun and began to shoot.
Recordings posted on Twitter Monday evening demonstrated the action of emergency medical staff administering first aid to the various injured individuals.
Police made known their intent to increase their presence in the area as the investigation carries on. They also made provisions for families of the victims to reunite. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy thanked the altruists, medics, officers, and medical staff at the emergency room for their rapid reaction in aiding the casualties of the incident.
The well-liked tourist destination, Hollywood Beach, is situated approximately 11 miles south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles north of Miami. Because of the Memorial Day occasion, it was expected to have an amplified presence of travelers compared to usual.