Miami Beach officials are trying to effectively cancel spring break after a pair of fatal shootings over the weekend.
Mayor Dan Gelber implemented a midnight curfew on Sunday night, and expects to reinstate it starting Thursday night through next weekend "in response to the two shootings and the excessively large and unruly crowds."
"We don't want spring break in our city. It's too rowdy, brings too much disorder and it's simply too difficult to police," Gelber said in a video message. "While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, the overwhelming volume of visitors, the few that come with bad intentions in the presence of guns creates a wholly intolerable situation."
It's the third consecutive year that curfews have been imposed in Miami Beach after spring break shootings.
"The volume of people in our city, the unruly nature of too many and the presence of guns has created a peril that cannot go unchecked, especially in the evenings," Gelber said.
The curfew lasts from 11:59 p.m. until 6 a.m. the next day. Under the curfew:
businesses must close "sufficiently in advance" of midnight to allow customers to avoid violating the curfew; hotels can still remain open, as long as they are servicing hotel guests only; restaurants can stay open for delivery only, but takeout and pickup service is prohibited; the sale or distribution of any alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption is prohibited after 6 p.m.; entry to city-owned parking garages within the curfew zone will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.; and some roads will be closed off. The curfew doesn't apply to people traveling to or from work, or emergency services.
The curfew covers the entire South Beach area, which is a popular destination for spring breakers.
According to police, two separate shootings over the weekend left two people dead and two others injured.
"As is the case with most serious crime in our city, both shootings were between visitors and did not involve residents," Gelber said. "It is clear that even an unprecedented police presence could not have prevented these incidents from occurring."
On Friday at 10:40 p.m., officers heard the sound of gunshots near 7 Street and Ocean Drive and found two men with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital where one died and the other remains in critical condition. A suspect was arrested and four firearms were recovered during the investigation. Police said the shooting was an isolated incident.
On Sunday at 3:30 a.m., officers heard gunshots near 11 Street and Ocean Drive and found a man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. A second victim was injured but treated and released on-site. Officers located the suspect and he was arrested after a foot chase. Two firearms were also recovered. Again, police said the shooting was a targeted and isolated incident.
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