May 26, 2025 – A Miami police officer shot 21-year-old Menelek Emmanuel Clarke multiple times during a traffic stop outside Bayfront Park, where the Best of the Best Caribbean music festival was taking place.
📹 Bystander Video Shows Critical Moments
- Filmmaker Billy Corben posted footage on Instagram showing:
- A black BMW slowly turning left as an officer stands on the hood.
- The officer fires multiple shots through the windshield.
- Clarke exits the car with hands up, then collapses with a bloodstained shirt.
👮 Police Claim vs. Family’s Account
| Miami PD Statement | Clarke’s Sister’s Account |
|---|---|
| Officer was “hit by the car” while directing traffic. | Officer stepped in front of the car after signaling them to move. |
| Shots fired in “self-defense.” | Clarke was trying to drive around the officer, not toward him. |
| Investigation ongoing; no bodycam released yet. | “It wasn’t intentional to hit him.” |
🚑 Clarke’s Condition
- Hospitalized at Jackson Memorial Ryder Trauma Center in critical but stable condition.
- Latest Update (May 27): Breathing tube removed; able to speak.
- His words: “I felt like I was going to die.”
🔥 Key Questions
- Why hasn’t bodycam footage been released?
- MPD cites open investigations by state and internal affairs.
- Was the officer in danger?
- Video shows the car moving slowly—was lethal force justified?
- Will the officer face charges?
- Too early to tell; probe could take months.
📌 Context: Best of the Best Festival
- The shooting happened during heavy traffic post-festival.
- Police were directing cars near Biscayne Blvd.
- Past incidents: 2023 festival had 3 shootings nearby.
🚔 Miami PD’s Use-of-Force Record
- 2024: 14 officer-involved shootings (6 fatal).
- Policy: Officers can fire if they fear for their life—even if no weapon is seen.
🗣️ Public Reaction
- Activists demand transparency: “Release the bodycam NOW.”
- Festivalgoers shaken: “We heard the shots and ran.”
🔜 What’s Next?
- State investigation will determine if the shooting was justified.
- Clarke’s family may sue if evidence contradicts police claims.
“This story is developing. Check back for updates on bodycam footage and charges.”
Sources:
- Miami Police Department
- Billy Corben’s Instagram footage
- CBS Miami / Local 10 / WPLG interviews
