A shooting incident on a crowded beach in Florida during the US Memorial Day holiday has left nine people wounded. The incident occurred on Monday evening at the Hollywood Oceanfront Boardwalk, a popular destination for beachgoers located 20 miles (32km) north of Miami.
According to the police, the shooting took place during a confrontation between two groups. The injured individuals, ranging in age from one to 65, include four children. One person has been arrested, while authorities are actively searching for a second suspect, as confirmed by police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi.
The initial reports of gunshots were received by the police at around 18:42 local time (23:42 BST), Bettineschi said. “We know there was a dispute between two groups, and that’s when the gunfire had started,” she explained.
Among the victims, four children aged between one and 17 were wounded, along with five adults aged between 25 and 65. Late on Monday night, one of the victims underwent surgery, while the others remain in stable condition.
Hollywood Police Chief Chris O’Brien informed reporters that the area was densely populated at the time of the incident, with thousands of people present. Numerous police officers swiftly responded to the shooting. Disturbing footage captured by cameras showed people fleeing the scene in panic, according to CBS, the US news partner of the BBC. The shooting occurred in proximity to popular restaurants, shops, and hotels.
Expressing his deep sorrow, Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy issued a statement denouncing the shooting. He described it as unacceptable that innocent individuals, spending time with their families during a holiday weekend, were affected by a shooting altercation between two armed groups showing no regard for the safety of the law-abiding public.
Sadly, this incident marks the 263rd mass shooting in the US this year, as classified by the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents resulting in four or more people being injured or killed.
Meanwhile, Chicago also witnessed a surge in gun violence over the Memorial Day weekend. Between late Friday and early Tuesday, at least nine people were killed, and over 40 individuals were wounded. Disturbingly, two young children were among those injured. One two-year-old accidentally shot herself in the hand after discovering a handgun in a local park, while another two-year-old boy was playing in his bedroom when a gun discharged, injuring his hand as well. Both children are currently in recovery, according to officials.
As incidents of gun violence persist across the United States, authorities and communities are grappling with the ongoing challenge of promoting public safety and preventing such tragic events from occurring.
