Cincinnati nightclub to permanently close this week after deadly shooting

CINCINNATI — Cameo Night Club owner Jay Rodgers says the club will permanently close on Friday, according to  Cincinnati media reports.

In a note to media, Rodgers denied claims that some patrons were allowed to enter the club without passing through security.

“I believe that I owe it to the patrons and the families of those affected by the shooting of Cameo Night Club to provide them with honest and accurate information as to the safety measures in place at Camero to prevent acts of violence, such as what occurred Saturday night,” Rodgers wrote.

Police are still searching for suspects in the deadly weekend shooting the left a total of 17 people injured including one person who was killed.

RELATED: Deadly Cincinnati nightclub shooting: What we know now

On Monday, Cameo Night Club voluntarily surrendered its liquor permit and the owner vowed to remain closed until the conclusion of the police investigation into the shooting, according to a statement released by the city of Cincinnati.

The statement, signed by Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black, indicates the club gave up the liquor permit, and a city official is driving it to Columbus where the state liquor board will complete paperwork.

The club owner will now have to reapply for a permit if he chooses to reopen and serve liquor.

The investigation 

Earlier Monday, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac confirmed authorities are searching for more than one suspect.

“I believe by the number of shots fired there was more than one,” he said.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agencies also are involved in the investigation. Gov. John Kasich, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman, R-Cincinnati, and Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, released statements and offered their offices’ resources to assist the police investigation.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the emergency dispatch center began receiving calls that people had been shot at the club. Isaac said a dispute erupted inside the club located at 4601 Kellogg Avenue before shots were fired by multiple suspects.

“This is the highest amount of casualties I’ve ever been aware of in a shooting,” said Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Daniel Hils, a lifelong Cincinnati resident who has worked in the law enforcement field for about 30 years.

The victims

The chief also confirmed that the number of victims injured had grown to 17 after an additional person came forward with injuries on Sunday.

Five victims were hospitalized. Three were reported to be in serious condition. Two were reported to be in critical condition,Isaac said.

RELATED: Two Cincinnati club shooting victims are from the Dayton area

At least two of the Cameo Night Club shooting victims are from the Dayton area, according to reports.

Multiple posts on Facebook have called for prayers for two men who live in Trotwood.

Eight of the victims were taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Other victims with more minor injuries have been taken to other area hospitals, our news partner WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported.

RELATED: 3 Things to Know about Cameo, site of deadly nightclub shooting in Cincinnati

There were four off-duty officers in the parking lot outside when it happened, Hils said.

“These cops, they did what first-responders do,” he said. “There were shots being fired and people were running from this club in fear and our people ran in.”

Hils described the shooters as “cold-hearted” because of the high probability that innocent bystanders would be hit by gunfire in the crowded club.

RELATED: PHOTOS: Deadly shooting at Cincinnati nightclub

Witness report of the shooting

A woman on vacation in Cincinnati from Chicago was outside Cameo Nightclub, just feet away from gunfire inside.“Twelve to 17 shots, sounded like bombs, said Sherell, who declined to give her last name. “It was just so loud.” She and her boyfriend were going to leave after he got “a bad feeling,” but their car was blocked in. Her boyfriend was going to go inside to inform a manager, and “that’s when the bullets rang out, and we were standing right there ... I thought I was going to die.”She said she dove to the ground, with her boyfriend covering her.“Everybody was running and diving because the shots kept going, they did not stop,” she said.

Residents, officials react to shooting

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley asked for prayers for those injured or killed, and said police need the public’s help from the public to solve this crime.

Robert Woods of Fairfield said his daughters have been to the club before, and that he warns his children to stay away from clubs.

“It’s a shame you can’t go out dancing, go out to the club, without there being some trouble,” he said.

Next door to the club at the Hitching Post restaurant, worker Amanda Beck said she was taken aback by news of the fatal shooting.

“In this world we just need to be better people, I think,” she said.

Beck said it is concerning that the suspects are at large, and that at this point police appear to not have names or descriptions of those involved.

“It’s definitely concerning,” she said. “But I know we have great police and everybody’s doing as much as they can so I feel as safe as I possibly can.”

Anyone with additional information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040 or police at 513-765-1212.

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