As of Saturday afternoon, no one has died, thankfully, after 25 were shot and 3 injured after shooting broke out overnight at a Little Rock, Ark., nightclub. (Numbers have been updated since the initial reports.)
17 people shot at downtown Little Rock hip hop concert overnight. The latest through the day on @KATVNews. https://t.co/W1g8DtFGoQ
— Chris May (@KATVChrisMay) July 1, 2017
At least 25 people were shot and several others injured at a nightclub in Arkansas early Saturday morning https://t.co/PWSQIWyxrh pic.twitter.com/hDvfxDsEqh
— CNN (@CNN) July 1, 2017
Authorities do not believe this was terrorism or even an active shooter, but rather shots breaking out in a crowded room after a dispute turned violent. CNN reported Saturday:
Twenty-five people were shot and three others sustained related injuries at the Ultra Power Lounge in the Arkansas capital.
At least one person is listed in serious condition. Victims ranged in age from 16 to the mid-20s and were being treated at area hospitals.…
Police have no motive for the shooting, and no arrests have been made.
Little Rock Police held a press briefing Saturday, and while we expect plenty of people are going to willfully quibble over the definition of “active shooter,” this certainly doesn’t look like a carefully planned attack, but rather just people who shouldn’t have guns having guns — which, predictably, will have people blaming the NRA and the “gun show loophole.”
Police are investigating a shooting at the Power Lounge 220 W 6th, multiple victims, no suspect information is available. PAO on the scene.
— Little Rock Police (@LRpolice) July 1, 2017
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We do NOT believe this incident was an active shooter or terror related incident. It appears to have been a dispute at a concert.
— Little Rock Police (@LRpolice) July 1, 2017
#UPDATE as of now ALL 17 confirmed shooting victims are alive. We will provide additional updates as needed.
— Little Rock Police (@LRpolice) July 1, 2017
ATF Little Rock Field Office special agents are on scene to assist @LRpolice partners after the early morning shooting incident.
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) July 1, 2017
Gov. Asa Hutchinson released a statement acknowledging that “Little Rock’s crime problem appears to be intensifying.” There have been about a dozen drive-by shootings in Little Rock this week, including one that injured a 7-year-old.
ONLY ON SEVEN: "I'm a kid." Hear from the 7-year-old shot in a drive-by shooting in Little Rock yesterday – at 5:00 on @KATVNews. #ARNews pic.twitter.com/MxJ9dBT4PQ
— Matt Mershon (@MattMershonTV) June 28, 2017
My thoughts are w/ the victims & their families this morning after last night's shooting. Full statement: https://t.co/jiTCAW9F6K #arleg pic.twitter.com/BNSz06OvOA
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) July 1, 2017
We don't need thoughts and prayers. We need common sense gun control which you and your @NRA campaign donors refuse to enact. #coward
— Max (@maxairways) July 1, 2017
Yea it's called dont let the @NRA write legislation allowing criminals to get guns. You republican wack jobs are getting people killed
— Max (@maxairways) July 1, 2017
You got us. This is exactly the sort of thing the NRA and the GOP are always working to promote. Again, no arrests have been made, but we’d really like to hear a little bit more about the shooters and how long they’ve been paid-up members of the NRA.
Families don't need your thoughts they need powerful legislation to control gun violence in America. You and @NRA own this.
— Kirby Allen (@kirbyallen00) July 1, 2017
KATV reports that Finese Twotymes, the rapper who was performing, issued a statement on Facebook:
Prayers go to the innocent people and their family that came out to support me last night in Little Rock, Ark. The violence is not for the club people. We all come with one motive at the end of the day, and that’s to have fun. Not to be hurt. So again, I send my condolences to the people who were hurt.
Rapper releases statement following #LittleRockMassShooting
at club #KATV7#arnews https://t.co/dgsv5dovaG— KATV News (@KATVNews) July 1, 2017
Maybe it was a miracle that no one was killed, or maybe it’s just a reminder that most gunshot incidents aren’t fatal and therefore don’t grab headlines — hence anti-gun celebrities like Bette Midler confusing shootings and homicides:
Trump says that 4000 people were shot in Chicago in 2016. Chicago Tribune says 2016 ended with 762 homicides. https://t.co/f0AoJBDexV
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) March 1, 2017
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Update:
Authorities didn’t waste any time suspending the club’s permit after the shooting, although the club has been cited frequently for violations.
NEW: Power Ultra Lounge has been cited for 14 violations & action against them was taken 7 times since 2012 officials tell @KATVNews #arnews
— Marine Glisovic KATV (@KATVMarine) July 1, 2017
MORE: Out of the 14 violations Power Ultra Lounge was cited for– some were for underage drinking ABC Enforcement tells @KATVNews #arnews
— Marine Glisovic KATV (@KATVMarine) July 1, 2017
CORRECTION: officials clarify to @KATVNews Power Ultra Lounge has a restaurant/mixed drink permit NOT a private club permit. (1/2) #ARnews
— Marine Glisovic KATV (@KATVMarine) July 1, 2017
They're supposed to stop serving alcohol at 2 a.m. & patrons under 21 can still enter since it's not a club (2/2) @KATVNews #ARnews
— Marine Glisovic KATV (@KATVMarine) July 1, 2017
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Related:
DEVELOPING: Manhunt underway: 15 people shot, one fatally, in Cincinnati nightclubhttps://t.co/FfrJrqcBLh
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 26, 2017
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