DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Several state and local law enforcement agencies responded to chaotic group fights — that allegedly involved armed minors — on Saturday night in a shopping and entertainment area with tree-lined streets and fountains in Broward County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers responded to Dania Pointe, a new area that is home to an Improv comedy club, a Bowlero bowling alley, two Marriott hotels, apartments, a movie theater, and stores such as Sephora and American Eagle. It’s off Interstate 95 and Stirling Road in Dania Beach.
FHP reported the “large disturbance” involved over 200 people.
Witness videos show a circle of more than a dozen teenagers in a pretty empty parking lot outside a store. They were cheering on two girls hitting and scratching each other while only one person tried to stop them. The TikTok and X users shared the video late Saturday night.
They got it going on at dania pointe bih😂😂 pic.twitter.com/0Bi0lutRfG
— I have nobody (@zaywithnohoes) December 1, 2024
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, there were eight juveniles arrested and four firearms seized. The Hollywood Police Department also responded. It’s unclear how many were detained. FHP first reported over 13 arrests on Instagram and later corrected the report to match BSO’s release.
The property is also near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The Christmas decorations and lights were up Saturday night, the pictures with Santa had started, and The Snowman Experience had opened to families with babies and toddlers listening to a musician playing the violin.
H&M recently had an opening party with a DJ and firefighters had been collecting toy donations for children in need nearby. It’s not the first time deputies responded to violence in the Dania Pointe area.
Deputies reported there was a shooting shortly after 6:15 p.m., on Nov. 21, near 100 S. Compass Way. According to BSO, fire rescue personnel found a man wounded and took him to a nearby hospital. Detectives asked anyone with information about these or other cases to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 to remain anonymous.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Joyce Grace Ortega contributed to this report.
Clarification: FHP first reported over 13 arrests and 10 firearms seized, and later corrected the report to 8 arrests and 4 firearms after BSO, the agency tasked with the cases, reported the same.