Edmonton,Alberta,Canada

Sunday, 22 April 2007

 

Shooting at piano nightclub

After two men argue over woman: cop

A gunshot was fired into the ceiling and a bouncer was bottled early Sunday during some tense moments at a southside nightclub.

Two men – one armed with a handgun – got into an argument over a woman at the Ivory Club & Ebony Lounge shortly after midnight, said EPS Staff Sgt. Doug Fedechko.

During the heated altercation, one of the men fired a single round into the ceiling of the popular piano bar at 2940 Calgary Trail.

“It’s a concern when they (guns) go off anywhere because nobody knows where that round is going,” said EPS duty Insp. Dan Jones.

After the shot was fired, the two men fled the bar, along with as many as eight of their associates, added Fedechko.

Police were looking for the men. No charges were reported by Sunday afternoon.

The handgun wasn’t recovered.

Around the time of the shooting, a doorman at the club was hit over the head with a beer bottle, Fedechko said.

It wasn’t known whether one of the men in the dispute did the bottling or whether the incident involved any gang members.

The doorman suffered non-life-threatening injuries that required medical treatment, Fedechko said.

Management at the Ivory Club couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday.

But last November, general manager Sean McMann told Sun Media the club’s location makes it less attractive to gang types.

McMann added that the Ivory Club, advertised as “Edmonton’s only live dueling piano bar,” has several strategically placed security cameras that cover about 90% of the club.

McMann also told Sun Media in November that the club has attendants in washrooms to discourage drug dealing, but the doormen don’t wear stab-proof vests.