WICHITA, Kansas – A gang shooting at a Wichita club has police asking questions, looking for suspects and saying they will be cracking down on violence at clubs.
Club Rodeo on E. Kellogg is a popular spot, especially on teen night. On Thursday kids 18 and older can get in, but only those 21 and over are allowed to drink. But last night came another incidence of violence in its parking lot.
“They (officers) heard a gunshot and got reports that a victim was placed in a car,” said Gordon Bassham with the Wichita Police Department.
Police say it’s a familiar seen at the club. They were called there 148 times last year alone. This time a 20-year-old victim was shot in the leg as a result of gang violence, according to police.
“We've assigned that over to gang detectives,” said Deputy Chief Tom Stolz with the Wichita Police Department. “Some of the people involved in this are gonna be gang members, which is another thing were gonna be talking to club management about.”
Stolz says club owners at Club Rodeo have been cooperative with detectives. But with five major incidents like the latest in the past two years, it’s time for a change.
“Clearly, we're gonna have to have a change, because we can't have shootings in the parking lots or inside these clubs,” he said.
That change could come from the club itself. If the club finds a way to curb violence in its parking lot, police will be happy. If not, there’s a new city ordinance with some teeth to it.
That club ordinance, says the City of Wichita, is duty-bound to keep clubs safe and police say if there are a number of what they call “trigger” incidents like the latest at Club Rodeo, action will be taken.
“And if it continues, it could actually lead to suspension/revocation of the entertainment license they possess,” said Stolz.
The club ordinance was put into effect last year. This latest incident of violence could be the first time police use it to make club owners make it safer.
