EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — Authorities are investigating a shooting that left four people injured and one dead Saturday morning at an establishment on Euclid Avenue and Taylor Road, East Cleveland police said.
“East Cleveland is out of control,” said East Cleveland resident Tony Young.
Dozens of evidence markers were taken inside a building in East Cleveland. Acting Police Chief Ken Lundy said that investigators tried to figure out what took place inside the establishment early Saturday morning.
“There was one male pronounced dead on scene. Four other victims that we know of at this point were self-transported to local hospitals,” said Acting Police Chief Ken Lundy.
At this time, Lundy does not know the condition of those four victims.
But he believes some type of altercation led to Saturday’s shooting inside what Lundy is calling an illegal bar.
“We believe that there was some type of gathering taking place in the wee hours of the morning, so we believe it was an after-hours spot, which there was alcohol, things of that nature, served to the patrons,” Lundy said.
When speaking with Tony Young on Saturday, he told News 5 he didn’t know anything happened inside the building since he said it’s normally boarded up.
“They need to tighten the grip on the city as a whole because it’s bad,” Young said.
Meanwhile, Councilman Lateek Shabazz said he wants the owner of the alleged after-hours spot to be held accountable.
“Now how somebody get in there with a gun, and you know you illegal. That’s stupidity. The owner should be locked up for this,” said Shabazz.
While Lundy said police continue to search for clues in this investigation, Council President Twon Billings said he wants to put an end to all after-hours locations.
“Due to the fact of the safety of the residents, safety of outsiders and safety of our law enforcement, we’re going to have to take action immediately,” Billings said.
Billings told News 5 he plans to call an emergency meeting on Sunday at 3 p.m. in hopes of passing legislation to give the police the opportunity to shut down all after-hours locations.
In the meantime, Lundy said if anyone was inside when this incident happened, he encourages them to reach out to the East Cleveland Police Department and mentioned tips can remain anonymous.
In early September, there was an "abundance of gunfire" outside of a Mobile Gas Station in the same area. At least eight people were shot and transported to local hospitals.
