Miami Beach officials have imposed a curfew in response to chaotic crowds and fatal shootings during spring break, with a meeting scheduled for Monday to discuss potential further restrictions. The curfew began on Sunday night and will run from 11:59 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday. It mainly affects South Beach, the most popular location for spring breakers. A further curfew will likely be put in place from Thursday through Monday, March 27. Two separate shootings on Friday night and early Sunday, which resulted in two fatalities, led to the decision. Mayor Dan Gelber said the crowds and presence of numerous firearms have “created a peril that cannot go unchecked” despite the fact of police and city-sponsored activities. The curfew requires people to leave businesses before midnight, although hotels can operate later for guests. The curfew won’t apply to residents, people going to and from work, emergency services, and hotel guests.
The latest shooting occurred at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday on Ocean Drive in South Beach, according to Miami Beach police. The victim was taken to a hospital but later died of their injuries. Police chased down a suspect on foot, but no information has been released about their identity or possible charges.
In the Friday night shooting, one male victim was killed and another seriously injured, sending crowds fleeing in fear from restaurants and clubs as gunshots rang out. Police detained one person at the scene and found four firearms, but no further details have been made available.
Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings on Ocean Drive during spring break. The year before that, about 1,000 arrests and dozens of guns were confiscated during a rowdy spring break that prompted Miami Beach officials to take steps to calm the situation.
The city commission’s meeting on Monday will discuss potential further restrictions next week. In his video message, Mayor Gelber said, “We don’t ask for spring break in our city. We don’t want spring break in our city. It’s too rowdy, too much disorder, and too difficult to police.”
