Miami Beach officials imposed a spring break curfew beginning Sunday night after two deadly shootings and loud, chaotic crowds that police found difficult to control
Mar 19, 2023 3:08pm ET
• 3 minutes reading time
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Miami Beach officials imposed a spring break curfew beginning Sunday night after two deadly shootings and loud, chaotic crowds that police found difficult to control.
The city said in a press release that the curfew would apply from 11:59 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, with an additional curfew likely to be imposed from Thursday through next Monday, March 27. The curfew mainly affects South Beach, the most popular party location for spring breakers.
The publication said the two separate shootings on Friday night and early Sunday, which killed two people, and “oversized and unruly crowds” led to the decision. The city commission plans to meet Monday to discuss possible further restrictions next week.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said in a video message released Sunday that the crowd and the presence of numerous firearms “created a hazard that cannot go unchecked,” despite a massive police presence and many city-sponsored activities that to employ people.
“We are not asking for spring break in our city. We don’t want spring break in our city. It’s too rowdy, there’s too much disorder and it’s too difficult to monitor the police,” said Gelber.
The latest shooting took place on Ocean Drive in South Beach around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Miami Beach police. A man was shot and later died in a hospital, and officers chased a suspect on foot, police said on Twitter. Their identities have not been made public, nor have any possible charges.
One male victim was killed and another seriously injured in Friday night’s shooting, causing crowds to rush out of restaurants and clubs into the streets in fear as gunfire rang out. Police arrested one person at the scene and found four firearms, but no further details were released.
Under the curfew, people must leave shops before midnight, although later hotels can only operate to serve their guests. The city’s release said restaurants can remain open for delivery only and the curfew will not apply to residents, people going to and from work, emergency services and hotel guests. Some roads will be closed and arriving hotel guests may need to show proof of their reservation.
Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew after two shootings, also on Ocean Drive. The year before, there were about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns seized during a wild spring break, prompting Miami Beach officials to take steps to calm the situation.