L’Jean McKneely, a representative for the Baton Rouge Police Department, said that investigators are looking for at least one suspect in connection with a gunshot that injured 12 people in a nightclub.
The gunshot was a “targeted attack,” the police say.
At a press conference on Sunday, Lt. Bryan Ballard, the head of the BRPD’s Homicide Division, stated that “this was not simply a random act of someone showing up and just killing people in Baton Rouge.”
A dispute between two groups of customers at Dior Bar & Lounge allegedly broke out about 1:30 a.m. local time, and several people pulled out firearms and began shooting.
According to Lt. Ballard, three of the 12 victims of gunfire sustained injuries that required immediate medical attention.
Three policemen who were outside the club at the time of the incident were commended by Chief Murphy J. Paul, Jr. for taking immediate action, adding that it protected other clubgoers from more serious injury.
The club was hosting a “return to school party” for students from Louisiana State University, Southern University, and A&M College at the time of the shooting, according to an online Eventbrite listing.
According to spokeswoman McKneely, the motive for the shooting has not yet been established by the police.
According to Deputy Chief Myron Daniels, the investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the ABC, which is in charge of policing establishments that serve alcohol.
A “security failure” at the event, which allowed the suspect or suspects to enter with guns despite the lack of private security, was the subject of an investigation by ABC, Daniels said.
Since the investigation is still ongoing, police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
There are “people in the inner circle of the guy who is responsible for this, the people who were involved in this shooting incident – their family members, their friends – there is someone who knows something,” said Chief Paul. “Do the right thing.”
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