Shots Fired At Voodoo Lounge Prompts Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber To Impose Curfew
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Police are investigating a Tuesday morning shooting in Miami Beach after a fight broke out at the Voodoo Lounge on Ocean Drive.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber says he is taking new action because of what happened. He calls what happened both reprehensible and off the charts. Even though no one was injured, but shots were fired and a security guard was pepper-sprayed.
The lounge is now closed because of allegedly violating the emergency order.
It happened when two people were reportedly denied entry into the lounge because they did not have proper ID.
Shots were fired at a fight broke out. Tables and chairs were overturned.
You can hear stunned spectators speaking as the incident was captured on video. "Oh my God," says one man holding a cellphone. "There's a fight. Shots are fired."
"We have had real problems during the pandemic with all the younger folks who want to get out and socialize they are coming to these places in our city. So, tonight we will have a curfew beginning at 12:30 a.m. Package Stores will close that 8:00 p.m. We cannot have this behavior. It's not what our city is," said Mayor Gelber.
"We are in a pandemic. Act responsibly. Don't come to our city to behave in a way you'd not behave in your own hometown. It doesn't make sense."
Gelber also told CBS4's Peter D'Oench "This is reprehensible. This is not what our city is or wants to be. We have been struggling with the entertainment district for decades. That behavior is obviously unacceptable. We are in a pandemic and this was just way off the charts and was outrageous and dangerous."
There was a mixed response to the curfew and some felt it was unfair to some businesses.
Miami Beach resident Dan Howard said "I don't love it but there has to be security. The real issue is are people safe."
Nat Guadalupe, a tourist from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, said: "It may make people safe in the public but come on, this is Miami."
Alan Rodriguez of Miami said, "I think it is a little too much for business."
Brittany Negron, a tourist who lives near Trenton, New Jersey, said: "I don't know if you practice social distancing and wash your hands, it makes no sense to have a curfew because of a little gunfire."
Bu the gunfire horrifies Mayor Gelber.
"During this pandemic, we have to be concerned about our behavior and how close we are together and to not act in a way that has total disregard for all norms of civilized behavior."
Police need your help with identifying the man who pepper-sprayed the security guard and the man who fired his weapon.
If you have any information, police are asking you to call CrimeStoppers at (305) 471-8477 or (305) 471-TIPS.
