A police officer shot a man who was driving a car outside a popular music festival Sunday in downtown Miami, according to officials.
The 21-year-old man was taken to Ryder Trauma Center with multiple gunshot wounds, Miami Fire Rescue said.
The shooting occurred shortly after 7:15 p.m. near Bayfront Park, where the Best of the Best Music Fest, a Caribbean music festival, was taking place after a two-year hiatus.
It unfolded just after the car hit the officer near Northeast 2nd Street and Biscayne Boulevard, according to Miami Police. The cop was directing traffic and was one of about 50 law enforcement officers assigned to the festival, which attracted up to 12,000 festivalgoers.
The officer who was struck sustained minor injuries and was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to police and Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami.
It is unclear if the driver intentionally rammed into the officer or if he will face any charges. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
Festival calm after chaos outside
Video posted to social media by Only in Dade shows festivalgoers running in a frenzy — and police restraining a person with blood on their shirt. The footage also shows someone on a gurney being loaded into an ambulance.
Attendees of the festival told the Miami Herald they heard the shooting at the entrance — where the festivalgoers were screened for weapons. The gunshots caused a stampede at gate. Staff at the venue instructed people to get down, but the commotion led to some losing their items and suffering minor injuries.
In a statement, festival organizers said the shooting occurred “in the vicinity” but had “no connection to Best of the Best Music Fest.”
“The individual involved was not a patron of our event, and the occurrence did not happen on festival grounds,” the statement said.
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The shooting did not disrupt the concert, which continued Sunday night with large crowds of people gathered to enjoy the music.
Thousands of people attend the Best of the Best Music Fest, a Caribbean music festival in downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park, on Sunday, May 25, 2025. A man was shot outside the concert venue.
“For 19 years, Best of the Best has proudly remained incident-free, a testament to our commitment to safety and our ongoing partnership with the City of Miami and law enforcement,” the festival organizers said. “We are grateful for the unwavering support from the City and our community of fans who help us uphold a safe, family-friendly environment.”
Miami Herald staff writer Jacqueline Charles contributed to this report.
