MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A survivor of a deadly Miami Beach nightclub shooting spoke to Local 10 News about that night, and the tough road to recovery.
On May 7, 2023, Isabella Urena and two friends were looking forward to a girls’ night out at Gala Nightclub in Miami Beach, their go-to spot for dancing and fun, but that night would be different.
“I didn’t hear anything initially. It wasn’t until I was on the floor I was hearing it more,” Urena said.
Knocked to the ground, Isabella thought she heard firecrackers. Instead, it was the sound of gunshots. She hadn’t realized that she had been shot four times.
“I looked at (my friend) and I said, ‘I think I just got shot,’” said Urena.
Her body in shock, Urena only later discovered that her friend Alexa had been shot as well. In the midst of panic, noise, and chaos, they were separated.
Amid the confusion, Isabella found help and awaited an ambulance. She gripped the hand of a paramedic, unsure of what was next.
“I was crying to him, ‘I don’t want to die,’” she said. “He kept reassuring me, ‘You’re not going to die.’ I’m grateful for him…I actually got to talk to him after the fact, and it was really nice.”
Urena spent eight days in the ICU. Her injuries were severe, with shattered bones, and one bullet still lodged in her spine, less than a centimeter from paralyzing her. Another surgery remains in her future.
The shooting was part of what police call a targeted attack.
Investigators revealed that Lowell Grissom, a rapper and talent scout for Chris Brown, was the intended target. He was shot and killed, while Isabella and her friends were caught in the crossfire.
Earlier this month, after a year-long manhunt, Deshawn Davis, said to be linked to the nightclub shooting, was captured by U.S. Marshals. Davis had been placed on multiple Most Wanted Fugitives lists for his alleged involvement.
“I didn’t die, but a piece of me did. We were just 21-year-old girls, and our lives were forever changed.” Urena said.
Despite the physical and emotional scars, Isabella and Alexa have remained close, navigating their shared trauma. They continue to heal and await justice.