Liberty One| Erica Carlin|
On Memorial Day, tragedy struck Hollywood Beach in Florida. At least nine people were injured following a mass shooting on the boardwalk.
Video from a live camera showed bystanders enjoying their holiday before gunfire erupted and they were forced to flee for their lives.
Hollywood Police Department spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said that police believed the shooting was the result of an altercation between two groups at the boardwalk.
After receiving call about gunshots at around 6:45 p.m., officers arrived to find nine victims who had been shot and provided them with medical aid.
It is unclear what age these individuals are, but some of them have been transported to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital for treatment.
One person of interest has been detained in relation to this crime, while police are still searching for another individual described as a black man with dreadlocks who is on the run.
Social media videos captured first responders treating many of the victims at the scene, while 46-year-old Jamie Ward witnessed what led up to it all saying that he saw “a gentleman with a compression tourniquet on his leg…and another larger gentleman with a compression bandage across his chest that was being whisked away on a gurney by an ambulance” when speaking to The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Bettineschi asked any members of the public who may have taken photos or videos during this incident to come forward as it could help further investigation efforts into this tragedy.
In response, Mayor Josh Levy released a statement expressing gratitude towards those who responded quickly and provided aid for these victims including “good samaritans, paramedics, police and emergency room doctors and nurses” alike.
