Explaining that his city feels “out of control” at times, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber declared a state of emergency on Saturday due to unruly spring break crowds, announcing that an 8 p.m. curfew has been imposed for its entertainment district.
“At the end of the day, all the policing in the world isn’t going to stop something terrible from happening if it’s going to happen,” Gelber said during a press briefing. “Our city right now in this area has become a tinder, and we cannot have a policy of simply hoping that it’s not lit.”
The mayor took action after two deadly shootings over the weekend — shootings that took place despite an “unprecedented police presence.”
Miami Beach officials have imposed a curfew during spring break after two fatal shootings and rowdy, chaotic crowds that police have had difficulty controlling. pic.twitter.com/iNNiR4SkFL
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 19, 2023
“This was not an easy decision to make,” interim City Manager Raul Aguila said at the briefing. “We are doing that to protect the public health and safety.”
“Most of you saw, if not covered, the crowds last night in the entertainment district numbering into the thousands,” he added. “As we hit the peak of the peak of spring break, we are quite simply overwhelmed in the entertainment district.”
In one scene making the rounds online, a lawless crowd is seen jumping on an occupied vehicle in the middle of the road:
#BREAKING: Reports of out control Spring Breakers jumping on occupied cars with fights breaking out
⁰#Miami | #FloridaPolice are responding to Numerous reports of unmanageable crowds of Spring Breakers in Miami Beach, which have resulted in altercations and instances of… https://t.co/2hH8B7R8WW pic.twitter.com/zHaR6dbw3u
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 20, 2023
Another angle of that incident appears to show a police officer looking on as the wilding takes place:
Spring break in #Miami pic.twitter.com/ta8XddokSA
— Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) March 20, 2023
One of the two shootings was captured on video, with a suspect seen pulling out a handgun and opening fire at point-blank range at another man as he passed him on a busy sidewalk — Dontavious Polk, 24, was arrested in that shooting and charged with first-degree murder.
Warning: Extremely graphic content
WARNING: DISTURBING! Surveillance video of this morning’s South Beach spring break shooting/execution on Ocean Drive and 11th Street at 3:30am. pic.twitter.com/RdUiVjJeUL
— Because Miami (@BecauseMiami) March 19, 2023
In another scene, a fast-food restaurant is under siege by an out-of-control crowd:
“Let’s go to Miami for Spring Break” | #ONLYinDADE pic.twitter.com/rNzXinrH49
— ONLY in DADE (@ONLYinDADE) March 20, 2023
Police had their hands full with disrespectful spring breakers who openly taunted them, as seen here:
Caution: Adult language
Spring Break in South Beach #BecauseMiami pic.twitter.com/OpA81i6YeF
— Because Miami (@BecauseMiami) March 20, 2023
Here are other videos of the mayhem taking place in South Florida being shared on Twitter – viewer discretion advised:
Miami Design Preservation League walking tour waits while firefighters hose the blood off the Ocean Drive sidewalk from this morning’s fatal spring break shooting near 11th Street #BecauseMiami Mitch Novick pic.twitter.com/RZYTVHrjs3
— Because Miami (@BecauseMiami) March 19, 2023
Oh look folks another incident in the Miami Beach south beach shit hole I’ve told you about. 3rd video of the day. More wonderful citizens fighting.. pic.twitter.com/VcQbqkIkSm
— and Patriots United (@GoodPatriots) March 20, 2023
Miami Beach Police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and another in critical condition. At around 10:41pm Friday night,Officers in the area heard gunshots near 7th Street & Ocean Drive on South Beach.They arrived to find two men with gunshot wounds. pic.twitter.com/U6vfe5Axam
— WIL [ i.am. Mr. Wilson] SON (@WILSONEWS2023) March 18, 2023
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