Georgetown City Council will decide Thursday whether to uphold a decision to suspend the business license of a club which was the site of a recent shooting.
On Monday, the city suspended the license of Casablanca's II nightclub and bar on Front Street.
On March 9, a man was shot in the rear end as he tried to run from a gunman inside the bar in the 1800 block of Front Street.
Police say it started when a woman walking inside accidentally knocked the drink out of the hand of the 23-year-old man who was shot.
Police Capt. Nelson Brown said that man then attacked the woman — 21-year-old Chameeka Allen — and started choking her.
A man, whose name has not been released, came to her defense and pulled out a gun and then shot the victim as he was fleeing, Brown said.
The shooting victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injury and then was released.
Brown said interviews are being conducted and so far the gunman has not been arrested. When he is, he will be charged with assault and battery with intent to kill.
The man who was shot is also expected to be hit with the same charge for allegedly choking the woman, Brown said.
The business has been charged with public nuisance.
Thirty-year-old Juan Rivera, the son of the club’s owner, said on Monday that he is unsure if his father will fight to keep the business open. He also questions whether police are cracking down on other clubs as hard as they are on the Casablanca.
Brown said because liquor was found inside the business, it also was charged by the state because its license only allows it to sell beer.
Brown said repeated problems is the reason the license was suspended, not just the recent shooting.
He said police have a file “two inches thick” which contains 43 incidents that have occurred in and around the club in the past two years.
The club owner says only twice in nine years has someone been injured at the establishment.
In a memo to city council, Police Chief Paul Gardner states council can either leave the business license in a suspended status or revoke the license altogether.
The owner will have the right to appeal the decision.
Web site upgrade
Council will also decide whether to spend $4,700 to upgrade the city’s Web site.
In a memo to council, Finance Director Jessica Miller said the city’s current Web site “is outdated, confusing and occasionally unhelpful.”
Miller said the city’s current vendor, VC3, makes updating the Web site “a very time consuming process.”
She said the process is also “troublesome and is prone to errors.”
Miller suggests the city sign a contract with E-Gov Link to do the work. She said that company works exclusively with governments, which means it is better equipped to meet the city’s needs.
E-Gov Link also submitted the lowest price. Six companies submitted bids.
Thursday’s meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com