MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney's Office is considering declaring a Memphis club a public nuisance, as the Memphis Police Department (MPD) is investigating a shooting that left two men dead and another in critical condition.
MPD said officers were called to the James Lounge on Summer Avenue just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday for a shooting.
After arriving on the scene, officers located three men, two of which were pronounced dead on the scene. The other victim was transported to Regional One Health and is in critical condition according to MPD.
An ABC24 photographer at the scene described it as “chaotic” and said he saw two ambulances leave the scene, both with victims. He also said he saw the club’s windows and several cars in the parking lot riddled with bullet holes.
In response to the shooting, the District Attorney's Office sent a letter on Wednesday afternoon, requesting immediate action towards deterring crime, such as hiring bonded security and enrolling their surveillance cameras to Connect2Memphis.
In a sign letter District Attorney Steve Mulroy also suggested "consider closing your club is you are unable to control the criminal activity at this location."
If immediate action is not taken, the letter warns, the Lounge can be declare a public nuisance, which would lead to a closure of the business.
This is not the first incident at James Lounge. In December 2019, a deadly shooting occurred in the club’s parking lot. Anthony Travis was killed, and another was critically injured after an altercation inside the club escalated into gunfire outside.
The alleged shooter in that incident, Cededrick Ivory, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, among other charges. Frank Walls was charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Before that, the Lounge was also subject to a nuisance action in 2016, according to the letter sent by Mulroy.
The establishment has also faced scrutiny from local health authorities. In a 2020 crackdown, James Lounge was one of several businesses temporarily closed for violating health directives.
MPD says this is an ongoing investigation.