A violent altercation at a martini bar in CityPlace Doral, Florida, resulted in the death of a security guard and the wounding of seven others, including a police officer, in the early hours of Saturday. The security guard, who was attempting to break up a fight between patrons around 3:30 a.m., was shot and killed when one of the individuals involved in the dispute drew a firearm.
The security guard, later identified as George Castellanos, was fatally shot by the armed patron, according to Miami-Dade Police. Two officers from the City of Doral Police Department were on the scene promptly and engaged the gunman in a shootout.
During the exchange of gunfire, one of the officers was shot in the lower extremity but managed to return fire, killing the gunman. The injured officer, a four-year veteran of the force, applied a tourniquet to his wound on the scene. He is expected to make a full recovery, according to Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez.
William Suedois, a resident of the nearby CityPlace apartments, described hearing an initial three gunshots, followed by a series of 10 to 15 more. He recounted the fear and chaos as people fled the popular bar, and police officers descended on the area.
In addition to the slain security guard and injured officer, six bystanders were wounded in the shooting. The victims, five men and one woman, were transported to a local hospital. Two of the victims are reported to be in critical condition, while the remaining four are stable.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed her gratitude to the officers who responded to the incident and offered her condolences to the victims and their families. She emphasized the community’s reliance on the bravery and dedication of law enforcement.
Three separate investigations into the incident are currently in progress. The City of Doral Police is investigating the initial bar fight, Miami-Dade Police is conducting a homicide investigation, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is examining the officer-involved shooting.