The violence in one of Hollywood’s busiest neighborhoods for tourists and locals has residents in the neighborhood worried.
The homicide that occurred on Saturday evening in the neighborhood worries traders and visitors.
If this Monday everything was normal on the Hollywood promenade, it was not the case on Saturday evening.
A woman who works in the kitchen of one of the restaurants in the area said she heard about five gunshots.
“Of course I was scared,” Evelyn, a Ukrainian-born woman, said of the incident at around 10:30 p.m. at 101 North Ocean Drive.
According to the authorities, the agents found a victim with gunshot wounds in this area of shops and beaches mainly frequented by families and tourists.
“It shouldn’t happen, apart from here there is a lot of security… we come here to have fun to have a good time. It shouldn’t have happened,” remarks Rodelsi Santo, one of many residents who reacted to the incident.
For his part, Yoel Batista, said that “he is concerned that it is a place where they come with the whole family. With children and that there are such incidents. Yes, we are surely concerned about the fact, yes”.
Authorities said the victim was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where he later died.
Sergio Paz, who works at Mamacitas Latin Bar and Grill, assures that “it’s a really quiet and well-protected area. We are surprised that this is happening in the region and at the same time it worries us”.
Ivette Felix, who works at the same location, explains that “it’s always very busy and it’s a very safe area. There is always security, the police do a great job here in the city of Hollywood but it has happened if it worries us.
The incident happened in a secluded area behind a restaurant. So far, authorities have not identified the victim, but locals say he may be homeless, although this has yet to be confirmed by police.
Any information in the case calls the Miami-Dade Crime Hotline at (305) 471-8477.