One-year-old among nine people wounded in Memorial Day mass shooting at Florida beach boardwalk
Shooting broke out during the Memorial Day holiday with a larger-than-usual crowd of visitors present
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At least nine people were wounded in a mass shooting at Florida’s Hollywood Beach on Memorial Day.
The incident, which saw at least three minors among the wounded, took place at about 6.30pm ET in the area of the 1200 block of N Broadwalk on Monday evening.
There were six adults and three children among those injured in the shooting, said Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for Memorial Healthcare System.
The victims were in stable condition and receiving treatment at the hospital, she said.
“It is a fluid situation,” said Ms Sanchez, who added that “a couple of minors” were among the wounded.
Hollywood Florida Police Department said that the incident started with an altercation between two groups, which escalated with shots being fired.
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Police have detained one person who is suspected to be involved in the shooting but said they were searching for another, who is believed to be a Black man with dreadlocks and wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and camouflage shorts.
“Please avoid the area of Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Broadwalk, due to an ongoing shooting investigation. Heavy police presence in the area. If you are looking to reunite with a family member, we have set up a reunification area at Johnson St and N Ocean bus loop,” tweeted the Hollywood Florida Police Department.
The gunfire sent beachgoers running for cover on a day when the shorefront was busier than usual due to the Memorial Day holiday.
CCTV footage from the moment when gunfire broke out shows dozens of terrified people frantically running away. In other videos posted from the aftermath of the shooting, emergency medical crews were seen responding and providing aid to multiple injured people.
Witnesses posted online that the shooting took place outside Nicks Bar & Grill.
“A shooting on Hollywood beach just happened in front of me, multiple people shot with stray bullets,” tweeted one eyewitness.
Please avoid the area of Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Broadwalk, due to an ongoing shooting investigation. Heavy police presence in the area. If you are looking to reunite with a family member, we have set up a reunification area at Johnson St and N Ocean bus loop
— HollywoodFL Police (@HollywoodFLPD) May 30, 2023
One person who was on the beach, Alvie Carlton Scott III, said he heard a number of gunshots suddenly and he took cover behind a tree. He said he fled the area after a police officer told people to run.
Jamie Ward, who was also on the boardwalk, said several young men were fighting in front of the stores when one pulled a gun and started shooting.
Hollywood mayor Josh Levy said in a statement: "Thank you to the good samaritans, paramedics, police and emergency room doctors and nurses for their immediate response to aid the victims of today’s shooting.”
Mr Levy told WFOR-TV that paramedics had treated victims at the scene.
“Police are responding right now. We have victims treated by police and paramedics on scene and transported to the hospital,” Mr Levy said.
He added: “It seemed like people might have gotten caught in the crossfire. But I can’t verify that.”
Hollywood Beach is a popular leisure destination about 11 miles south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles north of Miami.