A Miami Gardens Police officer walks out of the restaurant "The Licking" where a shooting investigation is being held in Miami Gardens, Florida, Miami, on January 5, 2023. - Multiple people were shot Thursday night outside of a Miami Gardens restaurant during a video shoot for rappers French Montana and Rob49. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
