MIAMI – Two men were shot Monday night at a park near Bayside Marketplace in Downtown Miami.
According to Officer Kenia Fallat, a spokeswoman for the Miami Police Department, the shooting occurred around 9:45 p.m. near the intersection of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast Eighth Street.
The shooting occurred at a park where a lot of homeless people sleep at night. It’s located right across from a condo building where residents often come to walk their dogs.
John Permenter told Local 10 News that he was with his dog and friends Monday night when his picnic at Museum Park was interrupted by gunfire.
“All of a sudden, there’s about eight gunshots and there’s like one gunshot, like, there’s like 5 seconds of silence and one more gunshot,” he said. “Then, (in) like a minute, there’s like 10, 15 cop cars running up.”
Miami Fire Rescue personnel took the two injured men to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. Fallat said they were both initially in “very serious condition,” but one of the victims later died.
The victim who died was described only as a white Hispanic man in his 60s. The other victim was described by police as an “unidentified white male.”
Officers set up a perimeter and closed the northbound lanes of Biscayne Boulevard from Sixth to Ninth streets after the shooting, police said.
Residents of high-rise buildings with a view of the FTX Arena and the Maurice A. Ferré Park, also known as Museum Park, were following the police activity, which continued late into the night.
“I just see from the balcony. I live (on a) super high floor and I just see, like this is two bodies. Oh my God, oh my God,” Maria Mercedes said.
Police have not released any details about what led up to the shooting, but said the gunman was described as a Black, possibly Hispanic man who is bald and between the ages of 55-60. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored hoodie with red logos/letterings on it and dark pants/jeans.
The incident has nearby residents rethinking the safety of the park.
“I probably won’t be out here when it’s dark anymore,” Permenter said.
Anyone with further information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Related social media
Traffic alert: We are currently investigating the scene of two adult persons shot. Avoid the area from Chopin Plaza to 9th Street on Biscayne Blvd. pic.twitter.com/gj3ln1whiO
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) September 21, 2021
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Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Emily Hales contributed to this report.