File Photo courtesy of Simaah/Pixabay
Aug. 6 (UPI) — A Wichita, Ks., club where seven people were shot and two were trampled last month has closed.
City Nightz, located in the city’s Old Town entertainment district, shut down and its signs have been removed, Charles O’Hara, an attorney for the club confirmed to KSN-TV in Wichita.
The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of July 2. Officers responded to reports of shots fired at 222 N. Washington St. Lt. Aaron Moses of the Wichita Police Department said the shots were fired inside the club and two people were trampled as club-goers fled.
The victims were between 21 and 34 years old. Four suspects have been arrested: 23-year-old Jaylen Thomas, 27-year-old John Houze, 19-year-old Ameri King-Ingram and 31-year-old Brandon Young.
Houze is charged with one count of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon. Brandon Young is charged with two counts of aggravated battery. King-Ingram is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon.
O’Hara said the owner of the club did not want to close the business but they felt pressured by the city to do so, KAKE reports. The owner allegedly received a letter from the police department stating that it would begin treating the business as a nuisance.
Police had frequently patrolled near City Nightz prior to the shooting due to issues occurring in the parking lot.
Two people were killed in a shooting at a nearby parking garage in Old Town in late July.
“City leaders go out and make a knee jerk emotional reaction to this and blame basically the club before they have all of the facts,” O’Hara told KAKE. “I didn’t hear the city leaders, specifically the chief of police, and the mayor come out and say well we got to do something about that parking garage that we own — it’s our fault.”