Miami-Dade Police Department Director Freddy Ramirez said as many as 25 people were transported to hospitals in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties
BY DEVOUN CETOUTE, CHARLES RABIN, AARON LEIBOWITZ, AND BIANCA PADRÓ OCASIO
Two people were killed and 20 people wounded at a concert early Sunday morning in Northwest Miami-Dade in what authorities say is one of the largest mass shootings in the county in recent memory.
Three of those injured are in critical condition, according to police.
There were so many wounded as the chaotic scene unfolded in the parking lot of the banquet hall overnight that detectives were trying to assemble the identities of all the victims around noon.
Victims were transported to a handful different hospitals, some in ambulances and others in their own cars.
The shooting started after midnight outside a concert at a banquet hall in a large shopping center on the 7600 block of Northwest 186th Street, Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez said.
The venue, El Mula Banquet Hall, is located in the Country Club Shopping Center in an unincorporated area north of the State Road 826 big curve near the Country Club of Miami.
The banquet hall had been rented out for the rap concert, police said.
Some concert-goers were outside when a white Nissan Pathfinder pulled up, Ramirez said.
Three unidentified people stepped out of the SUV with assault rifles and handguns and began shooting “indiscriminately” into the crowd, Ramirez said.
Police going through the crime scene found hundreds of casings.
“We believe this is a targeted act of gun violence,” Ramirez said. “This is a despicable act of gun violence, a cowardly act.”
El Mula was hosting a Memorial Day Weekend album release party on Saturday night, featuring live performances from local rappers, including ABMG Spitta, according to several event flyers posted on Instagram.
The flyer incorrectly listed Hialeah as the city where the event was taking place.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took eight of the injured to Miami-Dade and Broward hospitals, said Miami-Dade police spokesman Detective Angel Rodriguez.
I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims.
— Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021
In addition, he said, more than 12 other victims went to various hospitals on their own.
Police do not yet have description of the three people who shot into the crowd. Anyone with information on the shooting or shooters is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.
