Miami Beach sets spring break curfew after 2 fatal shootings

The City of Miami Beach announced Sunday an overnight curfew in response to a pair of fatal shootings on South Beach's Ocean Drive during a busy spring break weekend.

Driving the news: "In response to the two shootings and the excessively large and unruly crowds, and to mitigate dangerous and illegal conduct, the City of Miami Beach has ordered a state of emergency and a 11:59 p.m. curfew to take effect on Sunday," through 6am Monday, per a city statement.

• The action follows shootings in the heart of the South Beach entertainment district Friday night and early Sunday that left two people dead and two others injured.

Why it matters: City leaders have long struggled to manage large spring break crowds.

• This is the third consecutive year that the city has imposed a curfew to control crowds or curb gun violence.
• In March last year, a midnight curfew was imposed after a pair of shootings injured five people on Ocean Drive.

What we're watching: The City Commission will meet on Monday afternoon to discuss possibly imposing another curfew this upcoming weekend, the Miami Herald reports.

What they're saying: Mayor Dan Gelber said in a video address that both shootings "were between visitors to Miami Beach and did not involve residents."

• He said that police were "literally seconds away from the incidents" and made arrests within minutes.
• "That said, it is clear that even an unprecedented police presence could not prevent these incidents from occurring," Gelber added.

Go deeper ... Miami Beach wants a new spring break reputation: "fitness month"