A late-night bonfire in South Beach ended in gunfire, and now a 16-year-old is facing adult charges, according to Miami Beach police. The shooting happened around 12:22 a.m. on March 25 near 1 Washington Ave and left a juvenile victim with a gunshot wound to his left leg. Witnesses told officers that the suspects stood over the injured teen, demanded his black-and-yellow hoodie and shoes at gunpoint, then took off into the night.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, investigators later identified the alleged shooter as 16-year-old Daniel Luis Peru-Santiesteban and arrested him and another minor on April 13. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence tied to Peru-Santiesteban and recovered a Glock 17 9mm, a Radical Firearms assault-style pistol and a ski mask. NBC 6 South Florida reported that shell casings collected at the scene matched the Glock. The outlet also reported that Peru-Santiesteban waived his Miranda rights, admitted attending the bonfire and denied having a gun or firing the shot.
Bonfires and permits in Miami Beach
Miami Beach requires separate permits for open pits and bonfires, and the Fire Department oversees open-flame events and safety protocols on the beachfront. Under the city's Special Events Guidelines, open-pit and bonfire permits must be obtained by a licensed and insured contractor and can require off-duty fire personnel and lifeguards. The rules are designed to keep open-flame events from getting out of control and to coordinate police, fire and lifeguard staffing when crowds get large.
Police enforcement in recent weeks
The arrest lands in the middle of a crackdown in South Beach. NBC 6 reported that Operation Trigger Lock led to more than 100 drug and firearm investigations this spring and the impoundment of dozens of guns. Police said the multi-unit push resulted in 39 felony arrests and multiple weapon seizures as officers tried to head off violence at high-traffic events instead of just racing in after shots are fired.
Charged as an adult: what that means
Under Florida law, juveniles can be transferred to adult criminal court through a direct file by prosecutors or a waiver process. Once a case is certified for adult prosecution, the youth can be “handled in every respect as an adult” for later offenses, according to Chapter 985 of the Florida Statutes. Those statutes lay out when and how a juvenile can be moved to adult court, along with possible sentencing alternatives for young defendants who are prosecuted as adults.
What’s next
Per reporting, Peru-Santiesteban faces attempted-murder and robbery counts, and upcoming court filings will set arraignment and pretrial dates as the case moves forward in the adult system. The Miami Beach Police Department says the investigation is still active and detectives are continuing to follow leads. This story will be updated as new court documents or official statements come in.
