Larry Madowo: How Last Minute Decision Saved Me From US Mass Shooting

A portrait of CNN's International correspondent Larry Madowo.
A portrait of CNN's International correspondent Larry Madowo.
Photo
CNN

CNN international correspondent, Larry Madowo, on Tuesday, May 30, narrated how he survived a mass shooting in Florida, US. 

Nine people were reportedly injured on Monday evening, May 29, during the annual Memorial Day holiday, when armed men opened fire along a beach boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida. 

Madowo narrowly escaped as he was enjoying a meal at a nearby restaurant. Picking a spot earlier happened to have saved him from the ordeal. 

As people ran for cover near a crowded beach boardwalk, the anchor and his associates sheltered inside the restaurant.

A photo of Hollywood Beach in Florida, USA, taken by CNN journalist Larry Madowo on May 30, 2023.
A photo of Hollywood Beach in Florida, USA, taken by CNN journalist Larry Madowo on May 30, 2023.
Photo
Larry Madowo

“We were at a restaurant on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk in Florida when a shooting happened down the street. I took this picture as we ate.

“We could have easily been part of US gun violence statistics if we weren’t so hungry and picked the first spot. This is the moment the shots rang out. We were here at this exact time, just further down and unaware of what was going on,” he stated.

Hollywood Police Department spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi reported that the shots were heard after an altercation ensued between two rival groups. 

“You can never be too careful. But a nice beach and boardwalk otherwise. One victim of the shooting was a one-year-old,” Madowo added. 

According to US media house CBS News, four children and two adults were rushed to hospital but were in stable condition.

Yanet Obarrio Sanchez, a spokesperson for Memorial Healthcare System, confirmed that doctors were monitoring the victims' progress. 

Police were said to have apprehended one suspect and launched a manhunt for three others involved in the shooting.

In March 2023, the US government stated that it was looking into launching a framework that coordinates federal, state, local, and non-profit organizations to jointly respond to mass shootings as witnessed during hurricanes.

"When a mass shooting overwhelms a community, no coordinated U.S. government mechanism exists to meet short- and long-term needs, such as mental health care for grief and trauma, financial assistance (for example, when a family loses the sole breadwinner or when a small business is shut down due to a lengthy shooting investigation), and food.

"The President is directing members of his Cabinet to develop a proposal for how the federal government can better support communities after a mass shooting, and identify what additional resources or authorities the executive branch would need from Congress to implement this proposal," the White House stated. 

Ex-BBC Journalist George Ndirangu (centre) poses for a photo alongside CNN's International correspondent Larry Madowo (left) on January 23, 2023.
Ex-BBC Journalist George Ndirangu (centre) poses for a photo alongside CNN's International correspondent Larry Madowo (left) on January 23, 2023.
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George Ndirangu
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