A packed spring break weekend quickly turned chaotic when gunfire sent crowds running along the shoreline in Daytona Beach.
According to the New York Post, a video circulating online captured the frightening moment beachgoers scrambled for safety as shots rang out, interrupting what had been a lively scene filled with tourists and sunbathers.
Authorities say at least four separate shootings were reported in the area beginning Friday, as large numbers of spring breakers poured into the coastal city, according to WFTV9.
In one of the most alarming դեպictions, footage taken from a hotel balcony showed people screaming and sprinting across the sand after a gunshot was heard Saturday. Many of those seen fleeing were in swimsuits, caught completely off guard by the sudden violence.
It remains unclear what triggered that particular shooting or whether anyone was injured.
Police confirmed another incident on Friday near the Joint Bar, located just off the busy beach strip. According to authorities, a fight broke out before a single shot was fired. No injuries were reported in that case.
Roughly an hour later, another person was shot outside a nearby Crunch Fitness, escalating concerns about safety in the area.
Two additional shootings were reported along the beachfront on Saturday, further adding to the tense atmosphere as crowds continued to gather.
Investigators are still working to determine whether the incidents are directly connected to the influx of spring break visitors.
For those in attendance, the scenes were overwhelming.
“Twerking, dancing, stopping traffic, cussing people, flipping people off, stopping everyone, screaming. It was insane. Stopping traffic, you couldn’t move, you couldn’t go forward, back, nothing,” said Kissy Derito, who was visiting the city with her family.
Her account reflects the level of disorder that unfolded as large crowds filled the streets and beaches throughout the weekend.
Despite the festive expectations tied to spring break, the string of violent incidents has raised concerns about crowd control and safety in one of Florida’s most popular tourist destinations.
