Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

2 charged in Miami Beach; no arrests in other shootings

Police have charged two suspects with attempted murder in a shooting that wounded two people on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach

Via AP news wire
Wednesday 02 June 2021 14:30 BST
Banquet Hall Shooting
Banquet Hall Shooting

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Police have charged two suspects with attempted murder in a shooting that wounded two people on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach but suspects remained elusive Wednesday in two other attacks that left more people dead and wounded in Miami over the Memorial Day weekend.

According to arrest reports, Wisdom Awute, 21, and Christopher Urena, 29, both face charges of attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault. Urena also faces charges of grand theft and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Police received multiple 911 calls reporting the shooting just after 11:30 p.m. Monday along the popular strip of Art Deco hotels and restaurants. Officers found one person struck in the shoulder and another in the leg. Both were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where one remains in critical condition and the other was treated and released.

Grammy-nominated rapper DaBaby was one of many people detained for questioning in the Ocean Drive shooting before police let him go, Miami Beach police spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez said. DaBaby — whose legal name is Jonathan Kirk — had one of the biggest hits of 2020 with “Rockstar,” and was nominated for a Grammy Award for record of the year. A man answering the phone at his record label said “No comment.”

The shooting wrapped up a violent Memorial Day weekend in the Miami area. A mass shooting by three masked suspects outside a banquet hall near Hialeah early Sunday left two dead and 21 wounded, including three who were hospitalized in critical condition. And a drive-by shooting Friday night killed one person and injured six others outside a venue in the the Wynwood area.

There is no indication the shootings were related to each other.

“This is a weekend when we should be out remembering, enjoying time with loved ones, and instead we’re here mourning,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Monday. ____

Associated Press journalist Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in