
Within the last 24 hours Club Crave and Club Hughes, two nightclubs in two different areas of Memphis, have a common denominator other than offering entertainment.
Both have been backdrops for shootings that have left one person dead and four wounded.
Three people were shot and one person as trampled as patrons were exiting Club Crave in Fourth and Beale Street downtown at around 3:15 a.m. early Monday, police said.
One of the shooting victims was shot in the head, another in the stomach.
One man was found lying on the sidewalk steps from the club's entrance as the victim of a gunshot wound. He would later be pronounced dead at The Med.
Monday evening police identified the homicide victim as Randy Williams, 24.
A second man, 22, was located at the corner of Beale and Fourth with a gunshot wound that's left him in critical condition. A third shooting victim, age 18, was in non-critical condition.
Memphis rapper Yo Gotti was performing at Club Crave Sunday evening but it is not clear the shootings were in connection to his performance.
On Sunday, police were called to Club Hughes at Thomas and Firestone in Frayser in response to two men who alleged they were victims of a shooting. A police report says one of the victims ran from the rear of the club saying the duo had been shot. One of the victims was transported to The MED in critical condition.
Ray Hughes, the club owner, refuted that Sunday's double shooting happened at his club.
Sunday's reported shooting at Club Hughes is the latest bloody chapter for an establishment that has, on more than one occasion since 2005, seen its doors padlocked as the result of being deemed by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office as a public nuisance.
Blocks away, the inability to stop the violence in and around Club Crave at 380 Beale St., resulted in more mayhem early Monday morning.
As a janitorial crew worked inside Christmas Eve to get Club Crave ready for another day of operation, one man FOX13 News talked to believes the solution to curbing its violent past lies in making them feel less like an "outcast" in the entertainment district.
"They're not proud of Beale Street 'cause they don't feel included in Beale Street," James Williams said. "So, if they had some type of investment, like a job, that helped them to clean up Beale Street. They would tell their friends or family members to cut down the violence on Beale Street because I work down there."
But, why is it these two notorious magnets for drugs, assaults and violent crime can't be effectively policed? Remember, Club Crave is right across the street from a police station. But, even more baffling is why, given their sordid histories, are they allowed to remain open at all?
Memphis SCLC President Rev. Dwight Montgomery suggests it's time for the district attorney's office to put more "teeth" in its public nuisance policy.
"It's more important that peoples' lives are preserved than for a club to exist," rev. Montgomery said. "So, I think that every club in this city, we know that there are activities that lead to people being killed, should be permanently shut down - because life is more important than a party."
If you can assist police in searching for the suspects in both nightclub shootings, you are urged to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. You can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.
CLUB CRAVE VIOLENCE TIMELINE
CLUB HUGHES VIOLENCE TIMELINE
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FOX13 News reporter Les Smith contributed to this report.
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