EXCLUSIVE: 'We need to get rid of all-night bars and turn South Beach into something else!' Miami mayor says the high-octane nightlife must be SHUT DOWN in wake of growing gun violence, stabbings and street brawls
For decades, Miami's South Beach has been a raucous party central for millions of vacationers attracted by its tantalizing all-night bars and stunning beaches.
But the once never-ending party could soon be over following this week's brutal gun slaying of an innocent young father protecting his family as they ate in a restaurant during the early evening.
The horror follows waves of recent shootings, stabbings, fights and street crimes that have escalated this year in the area's teeming entertainment district – despite a massive police crackdown.
The pressure has now suddenly ramped up to radically change the area by ditching the high-octane nightlife that has made it globally famous – but has also attracted visitors with guns, knives and drugs.
And the push is being led by Miami Beach mayor Dan Gelber. Sickened by Tuesday's murder of Dustin Wakefield 21, he told in an exclusive interview: 'The area has become too turbulent and too disorderly.
'In fact, sometimes it is just ungovernable. It should be obvious to us that we've got to quit. We need to get rid of the all-night bars and turn the area into something else.'
Miami Beach mayor Dan Gelber is leading the push for changing South Beach's nightlife. 'The area has become too turbulent and too disorderly,' he told DailyMail.com
'It should be obvious to us that we've got to quit. We need to get rid of the all-night bars and turn the area into something else,' Gelber said. Ocean Drive is pictured
Tamarius Davis, 22, was charged with murder after pointing the gun at tourist Dustin Wakefield's son but killing the dad who shielded him. Davis is pictured being apprehended by police
Gelber said of Tuesday's shooting in the popular La Cerveceria de Barrio Mexican restaurant on the famous Ocean Drive: 'It is disgusting, it's horrific. There is no aspect to it that doesn't make your heart sink.
'Mr. Wakefield came to our city to create a special family moment and instead became a casualty of a horrendous and despicable act… no revenue is worth this pain.'
Colorado tourist Dustin Wakefield (pictured) was eating dinner with his wife and one-year-old son at a Miami Beach restaurant when he was shot and killed Tuesday
He continued: 'This horrible tragedy had a level of randomness to it that doesn't provide any solace to Mr. Wakefield's family.
'But that said, we are obviously attracting people who are coming to buy drugs, to fight or who are carrying guns. And that's a problem. I am not going to be a mayor that sugar coats this. It clearly often feels dangerous there.
'I am not going to ride this out. We have to respond to it. We urgently need action as failure to act ensures nothing changes.'
And he warned: 'I'm not going to be the mayor in Jaws and say everything is great in the water. For tourists coming here right now, I would say, exercise caution.'
A meeting by the city of Miami Beach is being planned to discuss changes.
Construction worker Wakefield was with his wife Karina and other family visiting from Castle Rock, Colorado. He was shot multiple times in the patio area of the restaurant by a man 'high on mushrooms' who walked in and chillingly declared: 'It's time to die.'
The gunman then danced over his victim's body before fleeing down a side alley where he was quickly seized by three cops, after yelling: 'I did it, I did it.'
Wakefield, a guitar-playing music lover and devout Christian, had bravely shielded his one-year-old son as soon as he saw the gun being brandished. His uncle Mike Wakefield said: 'The guy came in with a gun waving it, saying it's time to die.
'He pointed the gun at his (Dustin's) son and Dustin said, 'he's only a boy'. Dustin stood up between the gunman and the baby and he shot him. He shot him multiple times on the ground.'
Tourist Tamarius Davis, 22, from Norcross, Georgia, has been charged with second degree murder. He also faces an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting at, but missing, another man moments before Wakefield's killing. The police arrest report said he 'was high on mushrooms which made him feel empowered'.
The restaurant was closed the day after the slaying. It opened again on Thursday, with a small handful of vacationers sitting at tables where the horror took place.
This image provided by the Miami-Dade Police Department shows Tamarius Davis Jr (left), who police say fatally shot Wakefield, 21 (right), while eating dinner with his family at a Miami Beach restaurant on Tuesday. The family said Wakefield died protecting his son
Davis is pictured during his initial court appearance on Wednesday. Judge Mindy Glazer ordered him held without bond
One employee, who did not want to be named, said: 'We're just trying to move on. We don't want anyone to be scared of being in this area, despite what happened. But it's difficult, that can't denied.'
The usual mixture of tourists were milling around Ocean Drive as the sun started to go down on Thursday night, albeit in smaller numbers than usual. Tanned girls in bikini tops rollerbladed along the boardwalk.
Nairy Perez, 37, who lives in Doral, Florida, and has visited South Beach regularly over the years, said: 'For me, this area has changed a lot. Even the type of tourists we get here now has altered'
But the atmosphere was wary. And some tourists we spoke to were heading away from the area because of nightfall. It is generally after darkness falls that any madness starts, despite Wakefield's killing happening in daylight.
Mauro Briceno, 40, visiting from Union City, New Jersey, with wife Karen, 38, said: 'I heard there was a shooting and had wondered if people would be out.
'We were already very cautious. People have said to us, don't go there, South Beach is not the same anymore.
'And we are with our friend who is local and she says, we'll take you there, but not during the night time. So we are about to head out of the district. We can already feel the scenery and atmosphere is starting to change as night comes on. It's a different crowd, different people than during the day.'
The couple's friend Nairy Perez, 37, who lives in Doral, Florida, and has visited South Beach regularly over the years, said: 'For me, this area has changed a lot. Even the type of tourists we get here now has altered.
'I definitely feel it is starting to get more dangerous to be here. There is a different feel. This will sound controversial, but the class of tourist has changed. It is more lower income. Not what South Beach used to be about. Therefore there are more shootings, violence and crime.
'I would never come here alone now. And I would feel in danger at night.'
Just three months ago two people were shot just after 11.30pm along the strip of popular restaurants and iconic Art Deco hotels lining Ocean Drive. Two men were arrested.
It was the culmination of a violent Memorial Day weekend in Miami, that saw a mass shooting in nearby Hialeah that left two dead and a drive-by shooting in which one person was killed outside a venue in the uber trendy Wynwood area.
And during Spring Break, Miami Beach police were forced to fire pepper spray after officials admitted the crowds were getting out of control. Mayor Gelber declared a state of emergency and an 8pm curfew, saying the crowds are 'more than we can handle'.
Cops launched a massive crackdown during that period. They flooded the streets, seizing 102 firearms and arrested 1,050 people for various crimes of possessing weapons, violence and disorderly conduct.
Mauro Briceno, 40, visiting from Union City, New Jersey, with wife Karen, 38, said: 'I heard there was a shooting and had wondered if people would be out'
A photo of the Winter Haven hotel, where the gunman first opened on a passerby before killing Dustin Wakefield moments later
Tuesday's shooting took place at La Cerveceria restaurant in Miami Beach
In addition to the gun violence, police have had to content with the day-to-day brawling in the streets, incredibly often between barely clothed women trading blows among shocked crowds of regular tourists just wanting some feel-good Florida sunshine.
Mayor Gelber told DailyMail.com: 'We can do more policing but then it becomes a cycle that is always going to have moments like those we have seen.
'If you are attracting too many people and too many looking to act out, to buy drugs or involve themselves with something violent, you are not going to be able to arrest your way out of it.'
He lamented that South Beach's now tarnished entertainment district was started decades ago with the intention of being a Mecca for escapism, but 'there has now been a real decline'.
'It has now become unsustainable in that it is now an anything-goes crowd,' he told Dailymail.com. 'For me now, it just doesn't make any sense. We have imposed a 2am ban on liquor sales. Yet we still have people coming here to do what they would never do in their hometown.
'I cannot accept that what is happening to us is part of a national trend. I want to turn the entertainment district, which is really a concentrated postage stamp area, into something with boutique offices and residential zones while keeping the great restaurants and hotels. It needs to be a live, work, play area – not just a play, play, play area.
'We have the most beautiful architecture, the climate is great, there is fantastic shopping, it is right on the beach. All around there is amazing art and cultural elements. Saying we wanted to create a Bourbon Street, New Orleans, never made sense.'
He said the area attracts up to 50,000 people a day, with 10 million a year visiting Miami Beach pre-Covid. 'So many of the people who come here are here for all the right reasons,' he said. 'But when you have as many people coming as we have, there are too many within that group that are coming here with other intentions.
Mayor Gelber spoke to DailyMail.com before Wakefield family paid glowing tribute to the dedicated father.
'It is in his true character that he laid to rest, protecting his family. He is that man,' father and stepmother Matt and Angela Wakefield said in a statement.
'We take great pride and comfort in the fact that we were blessed with the man who stepped in front of the bullet to save others. He has always been and he will continue to be our hero.
'Karina is the love of his life, and she knows it. His love for her should inspire us. As a father, he was full of love and pride. His son knows he is loved.'
Wakefield was visiting Miami Beach with his wife and young son from their home in Castle Rock, Colorado
The restaurant was closed the day after the slaying. It opened again on Thursday, with a small handful of vacationers sitting at tables where the horror took place
Wakefield's sobbing mother Lora, 44, told WPLG Local 10 News in Miami: 'He was a worshipper. The best dad ever. Me and him saw miracles together, people healed. And his music, his music is amazing.'
Messages left on Wakefield's Facebook page included one which said: 'You are a hero for protecting your family. RIP. Such a young life taken so selfishly so soon.' Another said: 'May God wrap his arms around you all and comfort you forever and always.'
One more poignantly said: 'In the name of Miami Beach's residents and community, I want to express our condolence to your wife, family and friends. We're feeling your pain. We will do our best to fix this problem so this kind of brutality never happens again'.
Davis's stunned father Tommy, 60, exclusively told DailyMail.com he was praying for the victim's family.
'I have a message for the victim's family and this is we are so sorry. From the bottom of my heart, we are so sorry,' he said.
'This should never have happened. I am very remorseful and I am praying for the family of this man, his mother and his young wife.
'This is such a shock. I am a Christian and Tamarius grew up in a church atmosphere. I am lost for words right now.'
Speaking from his own vacation in Puerto Rico, Davis said his son had been in South Beach for two days with friends from his home in Georgia.
He added: 'I am totally stunned. Tamarius has never had any problems in the past. I am lost for words right now. Somebody sent me the police report. I never knew he even had a gun.
'He usually a very quiet boy, extremely quiet. He's absolutely never been in any trouble before.
'There is nothing else I can say, other than I am very remorseful. It may sound strange, but I am hurting to, for our family and for the poor family of the victim.'
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