MIAMI BEACH (CBS Miami) — Two people were shot early Monday morning on Miami Beach after shots rang out near 7th street and Ocean Drive.
Monday’s shooting marks the second shooting in Miami Beach’s entertainment district in 48 hours during what was expected to be a busy spring break season.
READ MORE: 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: Miami Restaurant Service Charges Are Not Tips
Monday’s shooting left two women injured. One woman had a non-life-threatening injury while the second was grazed by a bullet.
Police say the shooting could have turned deadly had it not been for the proximity of officers to the victims of the shooting.
Two possible subjects were detained by officers near the scene of the shooting. According to Miami Beach police, officers found firearms with the subjects but it’s not clear if they fired the shots that injured the two women.
The second shooting happened Sunday around midnight near 8th street and Ocean Drive.
“I saw the police with their weapons drawn first, they ran north on Ocean, and then they came back and surrounded what was either a vehicle or a person,” said Miami Beach resident and hotel owner Mitch Novick who was among those who witnessed the chaos.
According to Miami Beach police, two of the people shot were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A third victim showed up at Mount Sinai Hospital with a gunshot wound, also non-life-threatening.
Novick said the shooting is only part of the problem because the scene that followed was just as dangerous.
READ MORE: How To Help The People Of Ukraine
“I’ve been in stampedes before and the most important thing is personal safety. I saw a vehicle, I saw where the crowds were flying to and I took cover and kept filming,” he said.
Surveillance video shows the moments after the shooting when hundreds of people ran away from the scene, then moments later, the large crowds ran back, creating a situation Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said has become way too common.
“No community, no police force, should have to suffer through this. You know I’m really tired of it, frankly, I’d love to get rid of spring break. I wish the spring breakers would go somewhere else,” he said.
Gelber said the city has been doing everything in its power to control the crowds. That includes adding more officers, goodwill ambassadors to engage the tourists and even programming to keep them entertained.
“We’re being held hostage to a business model that really attracts an enormous amount of people in a very, very confining, constrained area. There are some businesses that love the revenue but you cannot pay me for this kind of concern and this kind of damage,” said Gelber.
Sentiments echoed by some of those visiting the beach.
“I basically ran by the guy that got shot and I saw him get shot and I was like the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” said tourist Mareo Jackson.
“Do I recommend anyone coming down here for spring break, absolutely not, absolutely not,” said Miami resident Ella Munez, “Two years ago it wasn’t like this.”
MORE NEWS: Zoo Miami Assisting Ukrainian Zookeepers Who Are Caring For Their Animals
Prior to the shootings, Miami Beach Police said they had other major disturbances.
