Nine people were wounded after gunfire erupted along a crowded beach boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida late Monday night, police have said. There were more people in the area than usual due to Memorial Day, a public holiday in the US.
Hollywood Police Department spokeswoman Deanna Bettineschi said the shooting occurred during an altercation between two groups.
She added that one person of interest was detained and another suspect is at large.
A video posted on Twitter shows people running away in panic after gunshots were heard.
Memorial Healthcare System spokeswoman Yanet Obarrio Sanchez told NBC6 that children are among the victims. Local media later reported that the victims include four minors.
BREAKING: There are reports of a mass shooting on Hollywood Beach in Florida. According to CBS, at least seven people were shot and some of the victims are young children.Permitless carry became law in the state in April. pic.twitter.com/C8P7iGhxaR
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 30, 2023
Witnesses told the Associated Press that they heard multiple gunshots. One witness was quoted by the news agency as saying that “several young men were fighting in front of the stores when one pulled a gun.”
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Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy thanked the first responders. “Our beach has millions of beachgoers a year. It’s a very popular and beautiful destination,” Levy said. “This is a never before occurrence. Ordinarily it’s a peaceful beach.”
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