Deputies say two men were shot near Booby Trap On The River around daybreak Saturday.
MIAMI-DADE, FL. — One man was killed and another was critically injured early Saturday after a shooting outside Booby Trap On The River, a strip club on Northwest South River Drive, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the gunfire followed a fight in the parking area shortly after 6 a.m.
Authorities said homicide detectives are investigating what led to the confrontation and who opened fire. The shooting drew a large law enforcement and fire rescue response to the club, a well-known venue along the Miami River’s industrial corridor. Both victims were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition; one died there later Saturday morning. No arrests were announced as of Saturday evening, and deputies did not release the victims’ names or ages. The case marks the latest deadly incident near late-night businesses in northwest Miami-Dade and puts fresh attention on crowd control and security practices during weekend closing hours.
Deputies said they were called just after 6 a.m. to the club at 3615 NW South River Drive for reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found two men down with “apparent gunshot wounds,” the sheriff’s office said. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took both to Jackson Memorial in critical condition. Investigators said an argument outside the club escalated and at least one person opened fire, striking both men. By late morning, crime scene tape blocked the lot while detectives photographed shell casings and canvassed nearby businesses for surveillance video. “We are working to determine the sequence of events and identify all involved,” the agency said in a brief statement.
The sheriff’s office said its Homicide Bureau took over the case and was interviewing witnesses who remained at the scene. Detectives were also reviewing cameras mounted on the club building and on surrounding warehouses that line the bend of the river. Officials did not say how many shots were fired, what caliber weapons were used, or whether a security guard was present when the fight began. They did not identify a suspect or motive beyond the initial dispute and did not say if the men knew each other. Traffic along South River Drive slowed as patrol units shut down several entrances to the lot while evidence technicians worked.
Booby Trap On The River sits near a cluster of nightlife spots and after-hours lounges in an industrial strip between Miami Springs and Hialeah, an area that has seen occasional violent incidents tied to crowds dispersing at sunrise. County records show multiple calls for service along the corridor during weekend early-morning hours in past years, particularly around closing time. The club, which advertises late-night entertainment and food service, has been the subject of neighborhood complaints about noise and congestion but also employs off-duty security on busy nights. Saturday’s shooting happened after a Friday night crowd and before the day shift for nearby businesses, leaving workers arriving to police tape and marked units along the riverfront.
Deputies said no charges had been filed Saturday. Autopsy and ballistic reports will be part of the homicide probe, along with interviews and any cell phone videos collected from patrons. If detectives identify a suspect, the case would be forwarded to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for a charging decision. The sheriff’s office said updates would come as next-of-kin notifications are completed and once investigators can confirm the sequence captured on security footage. Officials did not announce a time for a briefing; weekend updates are often released through written statements.
By late afternoon, tow trucks hauled away several cars from the taped-off lot while employees hosed down the pavement near an entrance ramp to the river. A worker at a nearby warehouse, who declined to share his name, said he heard “two quick pops, then a pause, then another set” just before sirens. A rideshare driver idling on South River Drive said she saw people running from the club as patrol cars converged. “It was a mess—everyone was confused and scared,” she said. Detectives spoke with patrons in small groups as the club’s neon sign flickered in daylight.
As of Saturday evening, deputies said the second victim remained in critical condition at Jackson Memorial. The sheriff’s office said it would release additional information, including the deceased man’s identity and any suspect details, as the investigation advances in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.