Shocking execution-style shooting sparks strict curfew in major US city
Authorities cracked down on partygoers after two fatal shootings in the popular tourist city.
Authorities in the US declared a curfew and State of Emergency on Miami after two separate shootings left two people dead during spring break celebrations on the weekend.
In horrifying CCTV footage from the popular party destination, a gunman is filmed opening fire on a pedestrian along a busy street at around 3.30am on Sunday, the New York Post reports.
As he continues to fire off several rounds in the execution-style killing in South Beach, terrified bystanders can be seen fleeing for their lives as the victim falls to the ground.
While the shooter also took off, he was later captured by police and named as Dontavious Leeonard Polk, 24, from Fort Lauderdale, and is being held on a first-degree murder charge after the victim died in a local hospital.
The shooting came two days after a man was shot and killed, and another was injured in Miami.
A person was held over the shooting and four guns were found at the scene, but police are yet to release any further details.
City slapped with strict curfew three years running
The incidents, along with “excessively large and unruly crowds", forced officials to impose a strict curfew in South Beach from 11.59pm on Sunday until 6am on Monday. The City of Miami said the action was to “mitigate dangerous and illegal conduct”.
During this time, businesses within the area were forced to close in advance of the curfew while after midnight hotels could only serve their own guests, and restaurants could only deliver meals. Anyone caught breaking the emergency measures would be arrested.
Miami Beach officials were contemplating another curfew to shut down South Beach this weekend but officials on Monday voted against another lockdown.
“We don’t ask for spring break in our city,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said, the New York Post reported. “We don’t want spring break in our city. It’s too rowdy, it’s too much disorder and it’s too difficult to police.”
It is the third consecutive year officials have imposed a curfew in Miami due to violence during spring break, USA Today reports. In 2022, Miami was shut down after midnight following two shootings that injured five people. While in 2021, police made 1,000 arrests and seized dozens of guns during a rowdy spring break forcing authorities to issue an emergency curfew.
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