Man Hospitalized After Being Shot by Miami Police Officer During Caribbean Festival

A 21-year-old man is in critical but stable condition after being shot by a Miami police officer during a traffic encounter near a Caribbean music festival on Sunday, May 25. The shooting, which took place during the “Best of the Best” festival in downtown Miami, is now under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

The man, identified as Menelek Clarke, underwent surgery and is recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, according to his attorney Michael Orenstein, who confirmed the information to The Miami Herald.

What Happened

According to Miami Police, the incident occurred while officers were directing traffic around the festival area. Deputy Police Chief Armando Aguilar said Clarke’s vehicle made physical contact with an officer, who responded by firing multiple shots into the car. The officer sustained minor injuries.

“There are a lot of cameras—Miami Police cameras, private business cameras—that we’re still reviewing,” Aguilar said during a press briefing. “We don’t know exactly what happened yet, but we do know there was physical contact between the officer and the vehicle that he ended up firing into.”

Clarke’s family, however, says the shooting was unjustified.

Sherylann Clarke, Menelek’s sister, said the shooting happened suddenly while the family was stopped in traffic.

“We were all stopped in the middle lane,” she told NBC 6. “The officer motioned for the other cars to go, then stood in front of my brother’s car and shot him.”

She emphasized that her brother was unarmed during the incident and remained unarmed even after exiting the vehicle. “He wasn’t carrying anything. When he got out of the car, he was in shock—he had just been shot. He thought he was going to die,” she added.

No charges have been filed against Clarke, and details surrounding the officer’s use of force remain under review. A Miami Police Department spokesperson declined to comment further, citing the active investigation.

The FDLE will determine whether the officer’s actions complied with department policy and state law.