One dead, several injured in strip club rampage
mreef
<http://www.boston.com/news/local/breakin…>
By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Correspondent
SPRINGFIELD — A 24-year-old man is under arrest after police say he came out of a bathroom at a local strip club early today and started firing a gun, killing one man and injuring several other people.
Marcus J. Blanton
A State Police community action team was on patrol near Club 418 on Worthington Street when troopers saw people streaming out of the building in panic.
Nearby, they encountered Marcus J. Blanton of Springfield, who allegedly tossed away a handgun as troopers approached him and placed him under arrest, said Springfield Police Lieutenant John Bobianski.
Blanton is accused of shooting five people and stabbing a sixth during his 1:30 a.m. rampage at the club, Bobianski said. ‘‘He came out of the bathroom and just started shooting,'' he said.
Police said victims were taken to Baystate Medical Center, where a 23-year-old Springfield man was pronounced dead. The victims' names have not been released.
Blanton was charged with murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and other crimes, Bobianski said.
Police don't know what prompted the shooting, but adult entertainment venues have seen their share of problems in this city. Earlier this year a fight at Mardi Gras, not far from Club 418, resulted in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man, Bobianski said.
Club 418, a tiny venue open from noon to 2 a.m., has also apparently been the scene of previous problems. CBS 3 Springfield reported that the club was put on probation and risked having its liquor license suspended after management failed to notify police of a fight between two exotic dancers, during which one hit another in the head with a stiletto heel.
A bouncer at the club referred media inquiries to a manager, Tony Long, who said in a telephone interview that he was at the club at the time of the attack, but would not comment.
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"The only reason the club gets a 2 from me instead of a 1 is that I didn't get shot while inside and from the looks of this place, it's seen that kind of action before."
A year or so later, Dockside Dolls was shut down and it has been nearly a year and not work has been done to show it reopening.
I only went to the place one time and it was a rip off. The waitresses worked as dancers and the people sitting around the stage did not tip as if that was the norm. I think I was well liked in the club because I was one of the few sitting at the stage and actually tipping.
I think it was last year - or maybe the year before - that a guy got pissed off at the Mayor in Kirkwood, MO (St. Louis burb) pulled out a gun during a City Council meeting and killed several people - including the Mayor.
I think it would be a mistake to single out strip clubs as violent places as a result of isolated incidents. I suspect that bars without strippers has a higher incident of shootings per store.
Nevertheless, it reminds us all that we are none of us engaging in a risk-free venture. The adult entertainment industry is always close to the margins of other more dangerous pursuits.
And, I really like this sentence: "the club was put on probation and risked having its liquor license suspended after management failed to notify police of a fight between two exotic dancers, during which one hit another in the head with a stiletto heel." Damn those heels ...
"I would be leary of any club that does not open during the day (noon)until 8PM"
...because that's basically the only time that *you* bother go to any strip clubs...sheesh...
BINGO!
The fight was only between two guys and lasted probably only 20 seconds. The poor girl on stage was quite shaken, though!
This can't ever happen in the USA, and no one is advocating for the outright outlawing of all guns at all either.