After shooting, Cabana Live planning more events this weekend

A week after an early-morning shooting at Cabana Live injured 10 people — including an NFL player — the restaurant and bar plans to hold several events this weekend, and the Seminole County Port Authority has insisted on added security.

But the Port Authority — the landlord for the property — does not appear to be moving to shut down the events.

Instead, it has requested that at least two off-duty deputies from the Sheriff’s Office be at the events, along with on-duty deputies as part of their standard patrols near the venue, a Sheriff’s spokesperson said Friday.

This comes after the Port Authority sent the bar’s property owner Marinas LLC a stern letter on Monday demanding “that the parties or other events being hosted at Cabanas Live stop immediately.”

Marinas LLC subleases its space to Cabana Live on Carraway Place near the St. Johns River.

This weekend’s events include a “Throwback Fridays 2000s” party that starts at 7 p.m. today and continues until midnight Saturday; a “Derby Watch Party” that starts at 6 p.m., on Saturday; and a Cinco de Mayo event from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

“The Seminole County Port Authority will be closely monitoring this situation and will have uniformed law enforcement present,” said Andrew Van Gaale, administrator for the Port Authority, in an email to the Orlando Sentinel on Friday. Van Gaale, however, did not address whether this weekend’s events violate the Port Authority’s demand.

Cabana Live or the event promoters will not be mandated to obtain special-events permits from Seminole for the weekend events because it will not require the closure of nearby roads or parking areas, outdoor tents will not be erected, nor will there be fireworks or loud noises, and it’s unlikely they will exceed the venue’s occupancy limits of 239 people inside and 356 outside, Tricia Johnson, deputy county manager, said Friday in an email to the Sentinel.

Orlando attorney Trevor Arnold, who represents Cabana Live, said in an emailed statement that the business had “qualified and experienced security personnel” on April 28 when the shooting occurred.

“Cabana Live continues to cooperate with all investigating authorities,” Arnold said in the email.

The shooting occurred just after midnight following a fight that broke out during an event dubbed “Nobody Leaves Sober” pool party.

Authorities said a 16-year-old boy fired a gun into the crowd of over 200 people. Another man then returned fire before the boy was tackled by a security guard working for a private company.

The teen is charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon in public and other gun charges.

One of those people hurt in the shooting was Tank Dell, a 24-year-old wide receiver for the Houston Texans, who was born and grew up in Daytona Beach. He sustained minor injuries.

Sheriff’s records show that deputies had responded to the club 85 times since March 2023, four months after Cabana Live opened. Those calls range from general disturbances, to fights breaking out, someone being battered, help in controlling the large number of vehicles in the parking lot and someone shooting a gun in the parking lot.

Seminole commissioners at their May 14 board meeting will likely enact a resolution amending the county’s special events permitting process, to put in extra measures including requiring security.

mcomas@orlandosentinel.com