At least ten people have been left injured after gunfire erupted during the taping of a music video for rapper French Montana. According to 7News Miami, the shooting occurred outside of The Licking in Miami Gardens, just before 8 p.m. on Thursday.
#BREAKING: Ten people have been injured in a shooting outside The Licking restaurant in Miami Gardens, law enforcement sources told 7News. https://t.co/9eje3IUSD9
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) January 6, 2023
The Music Video, Alleged Robbery, And Shooting
According to witnesses, French Montana was filming a music video outside of The Licking. One witness, named Ced Mogul, came to watch the filming, as reported by 7News Miami.
Mogul said, at some point, someone in the crowd was robbed of their watch, keys and wallet.
[He asked to] call his mother and see if we can get spare car keys and make sure, you know, he’s OK, and then the gunshots went off… at least 13, 14, 15 gunshots. It was very rapid, it sounded like an assault rifle.
According to the outlet, authorities have not revealed whether someone shot into the crowd. Or if the gunshots were an exchange of fire.
I took off running, and I was looking back, but I was like, ‘You know what? Let me just duck first, and then people started asking me, you know, ‘Can you help me?’. When I realized people were asking for help, there was nothing you could do about it when you got shot.
Mogul also shared an additional statement with CBS Miami.
When we heard the gunshots…people started running, some people had blood on their shirts, some people were crying on the ground. It’s just tragic.
Per #MiamiGardens police around 9pm, it was unclear if someone shot into a crowd at the #FrenchMontana video shoot, or if it was an exchange of gunfire. No one in custody as of 9pm. @wsvn
— Nicole Linsalata (@nlinsalataon7) January 6, 2023
“Three Different Crime Scenes”
A law enforcement source informed 7News Miami that there were “three different crime scenes” involved in this shooting. MGPD detective Diana Gourgue informed reporters that the “shooting started at another location and ended at The Licking.”
According to NBC6, Ced Mogul informed reporters that the music video taping actually began behind a “nearby KFC.” This is also the alleged location where the bystander was robbed. Mogul added that the taping then moved to The Licking but authorities have not confirmed this information.
The Victims’ Conditions
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, the total number of victims could not be determined. A first responder later identified the number as 10, as reported by 7News Miami. But the count is still unconfirmed by authorities.
We had a total of 10 [victims]. Four brought themselves to the hospital, and we’ve treated six transported.
Eyewitnesses told NBC6 that a rapper named Rob49 was among the victims struck by gunfire.
#NEW: Rapper ‘CED Mogul’ shared this video with @nbc6. He says shows #FrenchMontana and #Rob49 in the backseat of a car during the video shoot, and prior to the shooting.
Witnesses say #Rob49 was among nine people shot. @MGPDFL would only confirm multiple shot. #Miami pic.twitter.com/xHjCuIaI7H
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanNelsonTV) January 6, 2023
According to a source for 7News Miami, one of the ten victims is in critical condition. However, the conditions of the other victims are still unknown. French Montana’s condition is also unknown. But the outlet reported that there is “no indication” he has been injured.
…one critical. No reports of fatalities at this time. No word on #FrenchMontana but *nothing* indicates he was a victim. Police on scene not confirming numbers or conditions.@wsvn
— Nicole Linsalata (@nlinsalataon7) January 6, 2023
According to TMZ, a witness reported that Montana’s security “got him out of the area safely and without incident.”
In addition, no fatalities have been reported. Nor have authorities announced that they have taken a suspect into custody.
According to 7News Miami, a spokesperson for The Licking said they “were unaware that the rapper was filming in their back parking lot until just before the incident.” The restaurant is cooperating with authorities.
