Five shootings at a Florida beach sent tourists fleeing and one police officer hospitalized with a gunshot wound, plunging a popular spring break hotspot into violence.
The shooting occurred over the weekend in Daytona Beach, according to World TV 9.
A video shoot Visible from balconies at the Ocean Walk resort, throngs of beachgoers scrambled across the sand and onto the road as police tried to quell the chaos.
Kissy Derito told WFTV 9: “Twerking, dancing, blocking traffic, cursing people, knocking people out, blocking everybody, screaming. It’s crazy. Blocking traffic, you can’t move, you can’t go forward, back up, nothing.”
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People enjoy warm temperatures during spring break in Daytona Beach on March 27, 2023.
(Getty Images)
According to WESH, the cause of the panic was someone crushing water bottles, causing the sound to be mistaken for gunshots, and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office reportedly said there were no shootings at the beach over the weekend.
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Officials arrested 133 spring breakers over the weekend, including 84 in Daytona Beach, the outlet reported.
“We’re going to have a zero-tolerance approach,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood reportedly said.
Officials have designated a “Special Events Area” in Daytona Beach, effective at 11 a.m. Friday, allowing specialized resources to be deployed in response to multiple unsanctioned public events being promoted as spring break on social media.
“We’re going to come after you financially,” Chitwood said, according to WESH. “I’ll get that white Tesla you’re driving.”
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According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, one shot was fired following a fight at the Joint Bar at Seabreeze on the beach on Friday. No one was injured in the shooting.
Just an hour later, a person was reportedly shot outside a nearby Crunch Fitness.
According to WFTV 9, police were called to the scene of two beach shootings on Saturday.
One of the shootings was reported outside the popular Crusin’ Cafe, just two blocks from the crowded beach.
“Once upon a time there was a poor man [man] Last night in the elevator he had never been to Florida and he asked us if this was our first time in Florida and he asked should we pack up and leave? “Derrito told WFTV 9.
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South Daytona Beach Police Officer Jack Fessenden was taken to the hospital Sunday after responding to reports of a fifth shooting near Country Lane, the Port Orange Police Department said in a social media post.
When authorities responded to reports of shots fired in the area, the suspect allegedly fled in a vehicle, authorities said.
Officers from multiple agencies were trying to apprehend the suspect who struck Fessenden when he crashed his car while traveling northbound on Interstate 95 and began shooting at officers.
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Another officer shot the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Todd Anthony Martin, WFTV reported.
Both Fessenden and Martin were taken to a local hospital, where Fessenden underwent surgery and is expected to survive. However, Martin remains in critical condition.
“The most important news is that he is in stable condition and in good spirits,” DBPD Deputy Chief Tim Morgan said. Tell ClickOrlando.
“God was on his side today. You know, he was hit twice. Two critical areas, but we’re told he’s stable and he’s going to be fine.”
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All victims of the weekend shootings are reportedly expected to survive.
Police are still investigating whether the shooting was related to spring break.
The Daytona Beach Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital’s Adriana James-Rodier and Mitch Picasso contributed to this report.
Original source of the article: Video shows panicked spring break crowds fleeing beach hotspot after reports of five weekend shootings
