Photo Courtesy of Miami Dade Corrections/ Idahosa Family
On Sunday, a young man was shot and killed on a busy Miami Beach sidewalk during Spring Break.
Dontavious Polk, 24, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of 21-year-old Jordan Idahosa, a student at South Georgia State College in Valdosta. Police allege that he shot the victim with almost a dozen bullets from a stolen handgun.
According to video footage, Polk, along with three unidentified men, were slowly walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of Ocean Drive and 11th Street in Miami Beach.
Polk had his hands concealed underneath his T-shirt as he slowly approached the victim, who was walking towards him on the sidewalk with his arm around a woman. As the gunman continued shooting the victim, even after he had collapsed to the ground and stopped moving, the crowd near the incident could be seen quickly dispersing.
According to New York Post, investigators recovered 11 spent .40-caliber shell casings at the scene, and the Idahosa was rushed to an area hospital but could not be saved.
Polk was arrested after a chase and has since been charged with first-degree murder.
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The attack was “a targeted and isolated incident,” according to Miami Beach Police.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said, “It is clear that even an unprecedented police presence could not prevent these incidents from occurring. The volume of people in our city, the unruly nature of too many, and the presence of guns has created a peril that cannot go unchecked.”
“Jordan was a special guy. He went from being homeschooled to being a scholar,” Jordan’s brother, Sammy said.
“There’s millions and millions of memories of me and Jordan. We grew up three years apart, and we practically did everything together. He’s like my twin brother,” he added.
The incident has once again raised concerns about Spring Breakers. The shootings have prompted discussions about the need for stricter gun control laws and increased safety measures at popular Spring Break destinations. Many have also called for a re-evaluation of the cultural norms surrounding Spring Break and party culture in general.