MIAMI – A busy stretch of Wynwood turned into a crime scene early Saturday morning after a shooting involving multiple officers with the Miami Police Department left two people dead and another hurt.
Cellphone video obtained by Local 10 News captured the moments immediately after gunfire erupted just after 3 a.m. near Northwest 23rd Street and 1st Place, a busy area packed with crowds leaving popular bars and clubs like 1-800-Lucky and the Dirty Rabbit.
In the video, a man can be seen lying motionless on the ground as sirens blare in the background. Miami police confirmed multiple officers discharged their weapons during the confrontation.
“There was some sort of commotion, officers observed a male who was armed, subsequently shots were fired,” said Officer Mike Vega, a MPD spokesperson.
Investigators said they know who fired the shots but did not release that information to Local 10 News.
“We know that the subject that had the firearm was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he died, and we know there was a female that was also hit by a bullet and she was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital and she is deceased,” Vega said.
Authorities said third person, a man, sustained an injury to his hand. He is expected to recover fully.
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Vega said the officers involved were patrolling the area as part of routine overnight coverage.
“Officers were in the area because this is an area where bars actually close at 2 or 3 a.m. and it just happened to be that they were at this place when it occurred,” he said.
Vega also offered advice for civilians who may find themselves caught in a shooting.
“If you hear shots fired, seek low ground. Go to the ground, and if you have a chance to escape from wherever you are at, then by all means you should do that, but what is taught is you drop to the ground—that way you are less of a target,” he said.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is now leading the investigation, as is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Police said they’re interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance video to determine exactly what sparked the violence in the middle of a crowd.
Authorities have not confirmed the ages or identities of the individuals involved in the shooting.
