Coronado Drive Shooting Under Investigation

A 17-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting on Clearwater Beach on Sunday, May 31, after hundreds of people gathered in the 100 block of Coronado Drive for what police described as a “teen takeover.” Clearwater Deputy Police Chief Michael Walek said in a Sunday night news conference that officers responded around 5:15 p.m. and found the teen with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The victim was taken to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, police said. No arrest had been announced in the shooting itself as of Monday. ### Where did the shooting happen, and when did police respond? The 100 block of Coronado Drive was the center of the police response Sunday evening, according to Clearwater police. Walek said officers were called to the area at about 5:15 p.m. after gunfire erupted during a large gathering on Clearwater Beach. Clearwater police said the wounded teen was found at the scene and transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Fox 13 reported that the shooting happened near Coronado Drive and Devon Drive, where investigators later taped off part of the roadway. ### What have police said about the crowd on Clearwater Beach? Walek said hundreds of people came to Clearwater Beach after information about the gathering circulated on social media. He said police had been aware of the possibility of a large crowd during the first weekend of summer break and had “allocated our resources” in advance. Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Largo police officers assisted Clearwater police during the disturbance, Walek said. He said authorities also shut down access to Clearwater Beach using a traffic plan commonly used on July 4 after crowds gathered in multiple locations. ### What is known about the victim and the shooting itself? A 17-year-old boy was the person wounded in the shooting, according to Clearwater police. Walek said officers checked local hospitals afterward to determine whether anyone else had been injured. Police have released few details about the shooter or the circumstances immediately leading to the gunfire. Fox 13 reported that authorities said the shooting happened shortly after a fight, but investigators had not publicly identified the person responsible, the number of shots fired or whether the weapon had been recovered. ### Have any charges been filed? A 17-year-old from Brandon was charged with obstructing or resisting an officer without violence, unlawful carry of a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor under 18, Walek said. He said the teen ran from the scene of the shooting and was detained shortly afterward. Walek said no suspect had been arrested in connection with the shooting itself. He said multiple people were detained for questioning as detectives continued to investigate. ### What did witnesses say they saw? Janette Walker, a Clearwater Beach resident, told Fox 13 that she and her daughter saw the wounded teen after the shooting. “I told my daughter, oh my god, that boy was shot,” Walker said, according to the station. Dylan Gilbert, another resident, told Fox 13 he heard what he believed were six or seven gunshots. Those witness accounts have not been independently confirmed by police, which have not publicly said how many shots were fired. ### What happens next in the investigation? Clearwater police said the case remained active on June 1, with detectives still working to identify the shooter and gather witness accounts. Walek said the department would not tolerate similar behavior at future gatherings on the beach. The next public updates are expected from Clearwater police as the investigation develops. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the department as detectives continue reviewing what happened on Coronado Drive.