An online video showed the moment gunfire erupted on the popular hotspot. The crowd frantically scattered for cover and away from danger when gunshots started to ring out near the Margaritaville resort.

Other videos from the scene showed emergency responders treating several victims as they lay along the sand. 

At least nine people were wounded in a mass shooting at Florida’s Hollywood Beach on Memorial Day, according to reports.

The incident, which saw a 15-year-old victim among the wounded, took place in the area of the 1200 block of N Broadwalk on Monday evening, according to CBS Miami.

 

“Please avoid the area of Johnson to Garfield Streets, as well as the Broadwalk, due to an ongoing shooting investigation. Heavy police presence in the area. If you are looking to reunite with a family member, we have set up a reunification area at Johnson St and N Ocean bus loop,” tweeted Hollywood Polie Department.

Witnesses posted online that the shooting took place outside Nicks Bar & Grill at around 7pm ET.0

Nine people have been wounded in a shooting on a crowded beach in Florida over the US Memorial Day holiday.

The shooting on Monday evening unfolded on the Hollywood Oceanfront Boardwalk, a popular area for beachgoers 20 miles (32km) north of Miami.

Police said shots broke out during an altercation between two groups.

Those injured range in age from one to 65, and the wounded includes four children, police said.

Police say they have arrested two people and are searching for three others in connection with the shooting. Investigators recovered five handguns, two of which were stolen.

Video and images were released to the public in an appeal to identify the suspects.

 

Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said police first received reports of gunshots around 18:42 local time (23:42 BST).

"We know there was a dispute between two groups, and that's when the gunfire had started," she said.

The four children wounded are between the ages of one and 17, and the five adult victims are between the ages of 25 and 65.

Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital told US media that six patients - four minors and two adults - remain in hospital in stable condition. Three adults were treated and discharged, they said.