Officials say a police officer shot a man driving a car outside a renowned music event in downtown Miami on Sunday.
According to Miami Fire Rescue, the 21-year-old guy was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center after suffering several gunshot wounds.
The incident occurred shortly after 7:15 p.m. near Bayfront Park, where the Best of the Best Music Fest, a Caribbean music event, was resuming after a two-year break.
It happened shortly after the automobile hit the officer near Northeast 2nd Street and Biscayne Boulevard, according to Miami Police. The cop was controlling traffic and was one of perhaps 50 law enforcement officials deployed to the festival, which drew up to 12,000 attendees.
The officer who was struck received minor injuries and was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to police and Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.
It is unknown whether the motorist purposely rammed into the officer or if he will face charges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
Only in Dade shared a video to social media showing festivalgoers rushing in a frenzy, as well as cops detaining someone with blood on their clothes. The video also shows someone on a gurney being transported into an ambulance.
Attendees of the festival informed the Miami Herald that they heard the shooting near the entrance, where festivalgoers were searched for firearms. The gunfire triggered a stampede at the gate. Staff at the event told people to get down, but the chaos caused some customers to lose their belongings and sustain minor injuries.
In a statement, event organizers stated the incident happened “in the vicinity” but had “no connection to Best of the Best Music Fest.”
“The individual involved was not a patron of our event, and the occurrence did not happen on festival grounds,” according to a statement.
The gunshot did not halt the event, which went on till Sunday night, with enormous numbers arriving to enjoy the music.
“For 19 years, Best of the Best has proudly remained incident-free, a testament to our commitment to safety and our ongoing partnership with the City of Miami and law enforcement,” the festival’s organizers said. “We are grateful for the unwavering support from the City and our community of fans who help us uphold a safe, family-friendly environment.”
