INC NEWS - City eyes action vs. downtown nightclub (Herald-Sun)

[Caleb Southern]

City eyes action vs. downtown nightclub

By Lovemore Masakadza and Ginny Skalski : The Herald-Sun
lmasakadza at heraldsun.com
Oct 4, 2005 : 12:19 am ET

DURHAM -- City Manager Patrick Baker said Monday he is considering possible
legal action against a downtown club after a patron was shot to death
outside the club early Saturday morning.

Michael Kenion, 35, of 1315 Morreene Road, was slain after a confrontation
around 3:30 a.m. outside Club 1000 at 118 W. Main St., Durham police said.

Baker brought up the possibility of a nuisance-abatement lawsuit that could
result in the city confiscating the property.

"It depends on the results of the [police] investigation, " Baker said. "We
will do everything in our authority as a city to ensure the safety of our
citizens and to make sure we don't have further violent incidents in and
around that club."

Over the past year, two teenagers were wounded in separate shootings at the
club, when it was known as MK's House of Jazz and R&B. Then on Saturday
morning, when some people thought that the club's problems were in the past,
Kenion was shot dead.

Kenion was walking from the club when four men began arguing with him,
police said.

Shot rang out. The men fled in a dark green or black Ford explorer and a
white Ford Crown Victoria.

Some residents said they are ready for the club to be closed for good.

"I would like to ask Mayor Bill Bell, how many people have to get killed
outside this club before the city of Durham would shut it down?" said
downtown resident Caleb Southern.

Authorities say the shooting was just a random act.

Durham police Capt. Ron Evans e-mailed residents and businesses Saturday,
emphasizing that the shooting was the result of an argument.

Durham Police Chief Steve Chalmers in an interview Monday said it's common
that when something happens downtown that many people talk about it. He said
police would continue the investigation just like they do with any similar
case.

Although the police do their best to stop violence, Chalmers said, the
ultimate responsibility lies with individuals.

Several people who don't appear to agree with that opinion have been making
their wishes clear through the Partners Against Crime e-mail list-serv.

In early January, the club's ABC permit to sell liquor was revoked because
it was not being updated to reflect changes in the club's ownership. The ABC
reinstated the permit, listed under William Alfonso Gordon, later that
month, according to Alcohol Law Enforcement agent Ron Gilliard.

The club filed a name change form Aug. 11 with the ABC Commission, changing
its name to Club 1000, Gilliard said.

Gillard said the club did not have to seek a new ABC permit because Gordon
was still operating the club.

Gilliard said he was not aware of any complaints that have been filed with
the ALE division since Gordon renewed his permit. He also said ALE would
conduct its own investigation into the shooting.

But Southern said questions about several cases of violence at the club have
to be asked.

"One business is ruining it for everybody else," he said.



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.deltaforce.net/mailman/private/inc-list/attachments/20051004/2f582ab0/attachment.htm