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Strip club melee sends 3 to Worcester hospitals

WORCESTER — A melee outside a Southbridge Street strip club in the early morning hours of New Year's Day left three people injured, including one who was stabbed.

Police said two of those injured are gang members.

The fight broke out around 1 a.m. at the Riviera Show Club at 241 Southbridge St., but those involved had left when police arrived, according to a news release from the Worcester Police Department.

A short time later police received calls from St. Vincent Hospital, UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus, and UMass Memorial Medical Center — Memorial Campus.

Each hospital had a patient in the emergency room being treated for injuries sustained in the melee, police said.

At St. Vincent Hospital a 43-year-old man was suffering from cuts and abrasions to his hands, knees and head after being struck by a blue Nissan, which was speeding through the club's parking lot. The car fled and the Worcester Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating.

Meanwhile at the Memorial Campus, a 19-year-old man who police said is a gang member was being treated for a swollen eye, abrasions and a cut on his head after he was hit by a bottle while standing in the club's doorway. Police said he provided little information and was in good condition Thursday.

The third man, 21 years old, who is also a gang member, was stabbed in the back and driven to University Campus, police said. The man said he was stabbed inside the club during a fight and was sprayed in the face with Mace by a bouncer, the release said. He said he didn't realize he'd been stabbed until he'd been escorted out of the club and into a vehicle. The driver took him to the hospital, police said.

The stabbing victim was unable to provide police with any information about the suspect, and police said he was to be released from the hospital Thursday.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and asked that anyone who has information about the incident send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + the message or send an anonymous Web-based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.