Police were called to Evolution Ultra Lounge, at 28611 Euclid Ave., around 11:40 p.m. Sunday after receiving numerous calls about gunshots being fired during Teen Night.
At the scene, officials discovered a 15-year-old Solon boy who had been shot in the lower leg and a 15-year-old Cleveland girl who had been grazed with a bullet in her lower back.
“There had been an altercation between two different groups of males inside the bar,” police Lt. Pat Hengst said. “As a result, a number of male juveniles were ejected from the bar by the security staff. At some point, some of the males reentered the bar, and a male suspect removed a handgun from his pocket or waistband and fired approximately three shots inside the bar. The two teens were struck at that time. At this point, we believe they were probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
A security guard had a bullet put a hole through his pants — but the bullet did not strike him.
“He was not injured because it clipped his car keys,” Hengst said.
According to reports, between 200 and 250 people were inside the bar at the time.
“The bar was crowded,” the lieutenant said. “People began to flee. There was a lot of confusion. The suspect got away. He fired more shots in the parking lot before fleeing.”
Witnesses described the shooter as a black male who appeared to be between 15 and 17 years old. He was reportedly wearing a dark jacket with pockets on the outside, denim jeans, a black skull cap on his head and possibly a hoodie-style sweatshirt.
The victims were in good condition Monday morning at local hospitals.
“We do have several leads that we’re following,” said Hengst.
Wickliffe officials unsuccessfully attempted to shut the nightclub down last year.
In September 2009, City Council passed an ordinance requiring nightclubs to obtain a permit to operate.
Matthew Farmwald, owner of Evolution Lounge, argued the ordinance was a “retroactive law” that was passed after he had already opened the business.
Earlier this year, city officials agreed not to close the bar after Evolution Lounge made several changes — such as cutting down the capacity, supplying extra security and developing a dress code.
“It’s not unusual to have kids fighting, that kind of stuff, but it is unusual to have a shooting,” Hengst said of the nightclub.
Anyone with information on the shooter’s identity or anyone else who was involved in the altercation is asked to call Wickliffe police at 440-943-1234.
Source:The News-Herald
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