Close a troubled nightclub and unruly Montgomery bar and patrons will find another.

Just ask Omar Raye, the manager at Club Fusion on South Boulevard.

Raye said a security guard at his establishment was forced to shoot a man, he says was firing a gun at patrons in the club parking lot.

According to a Montgomery police incident report, Melvin Patton, 25, was shot early Sunday outside the club at 845 W. South Blvd. after a verbal altercation in the parking lot.

Raye said the shooting was an isolated incident and believes the business is starting to get some of the undesirable element that plagued Club Celebrations on Vaughn Road before it closed last month.

"We have been open for awhile and have had no problems, and now we're starting to get some," he said. "It seems like the 'problem people' are looking for someplace to go."

Montgomery Police Lt. Mark Drinkard said officers responded to a report of a shooting at 1:46 a.m. Security guards on duty said there was a verbal altercation among several patrons that escalated into people firing weapons.

The shooting suspects left the area in a Ford Crown Victoria before police arrived.

Later, officers responded to a call from Baptist Medical Center South, where a shooting victim came to the emergency room for treatment.

Patton said he was struck in the side by a stray bullet during the altercation. He was treated for a minor exit wound.

Police said Patton declined to press charges.

Raye told police Patton was shot by one of his security guards after Patton fired a weapon in the parking lot.

"The guy was shooting at someone else and security shot him and took his gun," Raye said. "We're not going to tolerate any violence in our parking lot."

Raye said it is only a small group of club goers that want to cause problems.

"Most people come and just want to have a good time, but there are a few that bring their problems that they have with other people in Montgomery to the club," he said.

Raye promised security would continue to hold a zero tolerance policy for violence.

"We're not going to put up with it," he said.