BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo Police have ordered the Groove Lounge to immediately close after 2 people were shot outside of the club on Saturday.
Buffalo Police say they responded to the Broadway Avenue club just after midnight on Saturday after 2 people were shot in a parking lot near the club.
A 29-year-old man was critically injured in the attack and a 32-year-old woman was hospitalized in stable condition.
When police arrived on the scene, there were also "hundreds of patrons" in the lot outside the club who were, "extremely disorderly".
Officers reported that security working for Groove Lounge were not able to handle the amount of patrons at the club and were also not cooperative with police who were investigating the shooting.
Deputy Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said in the past year, police have worked with the ownership on safety conditions like closing time and security.
“Chief Wright in the C District has worked, like I said very diligently with them, we want to see successful business in the city," Gramaglia said. "However they must be responsible, they must operate in a responsible and safe manner, and we cannot have acts of violence in and around that’s based on a particular establishment.”
Gramaglia said the club was closed in August for violating Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Executive Order.
In a letter posted on the door of the Groove Lounge states that closure will remain in place as long as it is deemed necessary by Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood.
The Groove Lounge was previously shut down by police in 2019 and 2018 for shooting incidents that were linked to the club.
