How police tracked down 5 suspects in a week after 9 people were shot on Hollywood Beach
Some stretched out on the sand, soaking up the last minutes of the holiday sun. Others strolled or biked the oceanside path or nibbled pizza and ice cream from one of the cafes.
For the hundreds of people on the Hollywood Broadwalk on Memorial Day, what came next turned to chaos and fear and hurt.
A volley of shots from people who didn’t like each other. A dispute, erupting in gunfire, scattering the holiday crowds. Wounded bystanders who moments before were simply celebrating the unofficial start of summer.
Five suspects. The most wanted people in South Florida at the moment.
How were they captured, some immediately, all within the week?
Here’s an account from police and witnesses of what happened before, during and after the shooting:
The first two
Soon after the violence, Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Paul Stewart, both 18, were arrested the same day of the shooting on gun charges. They have been released from jail on bond.
READ MORE: All five suspects arrested in the Hollywood Beach shooting. Here’s what we’ve learned
Three shooting suspects
The three suspects who police say were behind the shooting were on the run through the week. Lionel Jean-Charles Jr., 18, was arrested Monday; Ariel Cardahn Paul, 16, was arrested Sunday; and Jordan Burton, 15, was arrested Saturday. They all face several counts of attempted murder and carrying concealed firearms.
A mass shooting on Memorial Day
The shooting started with an argument that went out of control. That’s when several people in a group whipped out guns on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. They fired at the group of people they were arguing with — but their shots also hit a crowd of beach visitors.
The city’s web cameras that dot the popular pathway, anchored by an amphitheater and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville resort, captured the chaos. People started running away from the gunshots. A woman tried to cover a child with her body. Parents carried babies and toddlers to safety.
But nine people, including four children ages 1 to 17, were shot.
A member of the group that was shot at told police that a man known to him as “LJ,” who was currently or previously a student at Hallandale Senior High School, was the first to take out a gun. “LJ,” he said, pointed the weapon at a person in the group, then sprayed bullets indiscriminately.
Video from the area obtained by police caught both groups before, during and after the gunfight. They walked near 400 North Broadwalk, passing Margaritaville, and they continued moving.
When the group that was eventually shot at walked off to the sand, a fight broke out. A man in black shorts and yellow hoodie, who police say is Lionel Jean-Charles, fired the first shot.
Then, two juveniles, who police say are Jordan Burton and Ariel Paul, shot into the crowd.
Fleeing on tape
After the shooting, both groups took off in various directions. Police say Jean-Charles, Jordan and Ariel headed west on Minnesota Street and then north on North Ocean Drive.
While on North Ocean Drive, they ran from a nearby building after they were confronted by a tenant, according to police.
Officers found a black Taurus G2C 9mm handgun and silver Bryco Arms Jennings 9mm handgun, which police believe were the guns used in the shooting caught on tape. The guns were in the stairwell of a building, behind two cinderblocks that had flower parts on top.
In a nearby bush, police found found a black Smith & Wesson M&P shield .380 handgun.
Video footage, police say, captured Jean-Charles, Jordan and Ariel trying to escape again, hopping over a fence on Arthur Street.
Jean-Charles was caught on tape running from police near North Ocean Drive before turning onto Cleveland Street, according to police. That’s where he removed his yellow hoodie and threw it into the bushes.
A police cruiser circled Jean-Charles again, but he ran on North Ocean Drive, police say.
IDing the suspects
While in the hospital, one of the victims told investigators that he tried to intervene in the dispute and ended up getting shot by someone in a yellow hoodie named “LJ,” whom he knows via social media, according to a police affidavit.
That was one of the first leads for police. However, Crime Stoppers tips began naming Jean-Charles and Ariel as the Hollywood Beach mass shooting suspects. Further investigation found they live in Hallandale Beach and West Park.
On May 31 — two days after the shooting — detectives went to area schools with photos and videos to identify the suspects. They were named by several people at the schools as Jean-Charles, Ariel and Jordan.
The people interviewed by detectives also provided police with the suspects’ most recent ID photos and parent information.
The arrests came fast.
“I want to express my appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Hollywood Police Department, FBI, FDLE and U.S. Marshals who worked tirelessly to bring these perpetrators to justice,“ Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said in a statement.
What’s next?
▪ Arraignment: Jean-Charles, Ariel and Jordan will appear in court for the first time during which their charges will be read by a judge
▪ Bond hearing: Shortly after, a judge will determine what bond to set for the trio, if any.
▪ Increased penalty? Ariel and Jordan, who are minors, may be charged as adults after Broward prosecutors review the case.
