Publication title: The Canadian Press
Publication date: Sep 13, 2009
EDMONTON _ No one was injured when a group of men stormed into a busy downtown Edmonton after-hours club, firing a gun.
Paul Boodang, owner of the Twilight After Hours, says the group rushed past metal detectors at the club about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
He says one of the men fired shots into the ceiling of the club full of patrons.
The group then ran out and the club was shut down after the incident.
Police says several more bullets were fired as the group headed for their getaway vehicle. Staff Sgt. John Lamb says one bullet entered an adjacent building.
A vehicle was later pulled over in another part of the city and several occupants were arrested.
“Some of the people that are being detained for questioning, the gang unit has an interest in them,’’ said Lamb, adding no charges have yet been laid.
The group was caught on camera inside and outside the club, said Boodang.
He’ll be handing those videos over to police.
“We don’t take these kind of situations lightly and will be working with authorities until this situation is resolved,’’ he said.
“We work with the police and city to ensure the highest safety standards. We have metal detectors and pat downs when entering the club, as well as eight cameras.’’
However, Coun. Ben Henderson said the club has to bear some of the responsibility for attracting the gunplay to the neighbourhood, noting the club has a history of attracting dangerous crowds.
Thanh Van Phan, 19, was stabbed to death outside the establishment Nov. 11, 2007. He was known to police at the time of his death.
A previous club owner complained in 2005 the city was harassing the establishment. Its business licence was revoked for one month based on police complaints.
The club is in the basement of the former Red Light Lounge, where three people were shot to death in October 2006.
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