Doral city council is scrambling to tighten security measures after a deadly incident at a local bar has left the community in shock and mourning. In a response to a shooting that erupted last weekend at Martini Bar at CityPlace, where a 23-year-old security guard lost his life, officials are contemplating a revision of city policies on operational hours for nightlife establishments. According to CBS Miami, the city council will convene today to discuss potential changes with the aim to bolster security.
The tragic event unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning when George Castellanos tried breaking up a fight and was fatally shot. He was remembered as a father of a young daughter, whose life was abruptly ended when police say 37-year-old Jamal Wayne Wood opened fire. In an interview with CBS Miami, Castellanos' mother expressed her grief and called for more comprehensive safety measures, including metal detectors and protective gear for security staff. "If my son had one he would be alive because he got shot 2 times," Janina Castellanos said.
Aside from the devastating loss of Castellanos, the exchange of gunfire led to eight additional people being injured, including a Doral Police officer who took a bullet to the leg. Recovering at home after being discharged from the hospital, the officer's confrontation with Wood ended with the shooter being fatally shot by law enforcement. The rest of the injured participants of that tragic night, identified by NBC Miami, include two women and four men, one of whom remains in critical condition.
Current city regulations permit restaurants to serve alcohol till 1 a.m. and nightclubs till 2 a.m. Still, Martini Bar was operating until 4 a.m. on the fateful morning due to an extension. Following up on the community's outrage and the clear indications that such regulations need review, Mayor Christi Fraga has emphasized the imperative need for this emergency meeting. The intention behind such changes is driven by the hope to avert similar tragedies. "It is important that we look at what are the pros and cons of this, and at this point, we just see that there's, at least in my opinion, there's just not enough pros," Fraga told CBS Miami.
In the midst of policy discussions and preventative measures, the impact of the violence has left a mark on the city. The community now looks towards its leaders for reassurance that its popular social hubs can remain places of leisure rather than scenes of chaos. CityPlace Doral, in a statement to NBC Miami, expressed their concern and a reinforced commitment to safety, iterating that the wellbeing of their patrons remains their topmost priority.
