This week, at a crowded Florida beach during spring break, a teenage boy pulled out a gun during a fight and ran through the crowd with the gun in his hand.
People ran in different directions in New Smyrna Beach on Thursday, shouting “He’s got a gun. He’s got a gun.” A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputy quickly intervened and confronted the gunman with commands.
“Drop the gun. Drop the gun,” a deputy yells at the suspect, who is seen on body camera footage running away from the officer.
Deputies chased him through New Smyrna Beach, ordering him to drop his gun, and other law enforcement officers joined in the chase on foot, pushing back the horde of Spring Breakers.
Florida spring break draws big crowds for beach boxing match against Fort Lauderdale
A teenager points a gun at spring breakers on a crowded beach in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)
The gunman, later identified as 16-year-old Felixander Solis Guzman, jumped into knee-deep water and stood there for several minutes.
Body camera footage shows law enforcement officers lined up along the beach with guns drawn.
Fort Lauderdale supports spring break with free roof drink tests and DUI alternatives
Guzman finally dropped the gun in the water and officers surrounded him, but the deputy yelled for him to back away in case he had another weapon.
When backup arrived, the officers took cover behind an open police car door and waited until the tense five-minute standoff was over.
The gunman took off, still holding the weapon in his right hand, and ran through the crowd toward the shallow end of the water. (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office surrounded the suspect in knee-deep water, where police say he attempted to dump a gun and 20 small plastic bags containing marijuana. (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)
Solis-Guzman complied with the officer’s orders and surrendered with his hands up. He was arrested without incident.
Deputies found a gun and a bag containing 20 small plastic bags containing marijuana, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Florida floods cause ‘unprecedented’ crackdown by state police in spring break hotspots
Behind police, body camera footage showed a large crowd sunbathing in New Smyrna Beach, a Florida coastal city about 24 miles south of Daytona Beach, a popular spring break destination.
The beach was crowded when the suspect brandished a gun. As officers arrested the suspects, they continually shouted for people to clear the beach and forced bystanders back. (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)
Solis-Guzman was arrested and charged with three counts: Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of a Firearm by Person Under 18, Unlawful Display of a Firearm, Second-Degree Felony with a Weapon, and Resisting Law Enforcement. Two counts of tampering with evidence and selling marijuana.
The teenager also had seven active no-bail warrants out of Orange County, including robbery with a firearm and violation of probation.
Watch the full Chase and Standoff video
24 Spring Break is like no other
Spring break is always a hot topic in Florida, especially Miami Beach and South Florida in general, where visitors have been scorched by 100-plus degree heat over the past two weeks.
Even before the annual gathering began, Miami Beach officials “disbanded” spring breakers, which the New York Post reported “collapsed” after the first week as crowds were virtually non-existent. I called it.
Family beach towns brace for crowds as Miami Beach collapses during Florida spring break
That’s exactly why the mayor and city police imposed strict guidelines in the wake of last year’s unrest, in which two people were shot to death, police arrested 500 people (including 230 felony arrests), and seized 105 guns. It was what I wanted when I did it.
The group moved to coastal Fort Lauderdale, where the first weekend was busier than usual, but officials told Fox News Digital that the first weekend was a “success.”
As crowds flocked to the beach, spring break party seekers received a welcome message from Fort Lauderdale. (US Sun/Mega)
Beach boxing with “referees” and cheering fans was part of the first week of spring break activities. (US Sun/Mega)
The real test begins this weekend, which coincides with St. Patrick’s Day, a popular party day.
“Spring break crowds have been as expected so far this year, and this week will be the busiest week we have anticipated,” said spokeswoman Casey Leaning. Fort Lauderdale police told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “There were no major problems or disruptions.”
The second and third weeks of March are historically the busiest spring break period and draw the most people.
A pair of spring breakers pose along the shoreline of Fort Lauderdale Beach on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Large crowds are expected to flock to Fort Lauderdale throughout March as Miami Beach enacts extensive regulations to crack down on unruly behavior. (AJ Sky, Fox News Digital)
In March 2024, a crowd was enjoying spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tightened restrictions in Miami Beach are forcing tourists to move their vacations further north in Florida. (US Sun/Mega)
‘Unprecedented’ pre-emptive attack by a nation
Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week that more than 140 state troopers and various other state resources were sent to South Florida as part of an “unprecedented” pre-emptive strike against spring break crimes.
The plan would send 60 state troopers to strengthen communities across South Florida, with a concentration in Miami Beach, the governor said.
An additional 60 state troopers will be mobilized to additional hot spots such as Daytona Beach and Panama City Beach, and 24 rapid response troopers will be deployed to Bay, Volusia, Broward and Miami-Dade counties for emergencies. It’s planned.
The Spring Breakers take part in a football wrestling match Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Fort Lauderdale Beach. Miami Beach has enacted extensive regulations to crack down on unruly behavior, and large crowds are expected to flock to Fort Lauderdale throughout March. (AJ Sky, Fox News Digital)
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“This is truly unprecedented,” DeSantis said at a March 5 press conference. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a state so proactive going into a season like this.”
“All things considered, I think we’re in good shape and ready to go, as we’ve always been at Florida State,” he said.
fox news digital emmett jones contributed to this report.
