A police shooting in downtown Miami early Saturday sent a City of Miami officer and a young man to the hospital, just as Ultra Music Festival crowds were gearing up for another packed day at Bayfront Park. The brief clash unfolded near the waterfront, drew a rapid and heavy police response, and temporarily disrupted movement around the festival’s perimeter.
Officers were called around 7 a.m. to the Eve Hotel on Northeast Second Street for reports of a man behaving erratically. Witnesses said the man, who appeared to be in his early 20s, took off his shirt and began yelling. Police tried to de-escalate the situation and deployed a Taser that did not work as intended. An officer then fired, hitting the man. Both the officer and the man were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to WPLG Local 10.
Police Say Incident Appears Isolated
Miami Police Chief Manny Morales told reporters the shooting appears to be a one-off incident despite the huge number of visitors pouring into downtown for multiple events. “We probably have 150,000 folks coming into the city ... so this is an anomaly, not what was expected,” Morales said, according to WPLG Local 10. A strong law enforcement presence remained in the area as investigators worked the scene.
Festival Context And Location
Ultra Music Festival is scheduled to run from Friday through Sunday at Bayfront Park, with the event’s official site listing dates and activities, according to Ultra Music Festival. Bayfront Park, the downtown waterfront site that hosts the annual EDM gathering, is located at 301 North Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami, according to the park’s management site, Bayfront Park. The festival has drawn large crowds and a heightened public-safety posture throughout the weekend.
Investigation Ongoing
City police said detectives continued processing the scene and interviewing witnesses as the investigation remained active. No additional details were immediately released.
