Police Seek Nightclub Shooter Who Killed 1, Injured 6
MIAMI (CBS4) – A grieving mother is asking for the public's help in finding the gunman who shot and killed her son at a popular Miami nightclub early Sunday.
"I would like to say my son was a loving human being," said Dewonderlyn Woods, the mother of 26-year-old Brandon Marquis McGhee, who was shot and killed inside Club Nocturnal. Police said the gunman was trying to hit McGhee or "one of his associates."
"This is shocking," said Woods. "This caught me off guard. I didn't even know he was at the club.
It was just so shocking from him to be shot dead in the club like that. I mean where was the security. Please, whoever did this, come forward. You are going to get caught."
Woods made an appeal for help, along with McGhee's step-father Gibson Beautelus and his sister Jasmine Woods, at Miami Police headquarters Monday afternoon.
"He wasn't the only one shot," said the victim's mother. "My heart goes out to the others."
Six other people were wounded and four of them remain hospitalized at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
"I loved my son," said Dewonderlyn Woods. "Regardless of what he did and everyone makes mistakes, he did not deserve to die like that."
Records show that McGhee had a history of arrests for offenses including burglary.
"I just couldn't believe he was shot in a club," said the victim's mother. Police say hundreds of patrons were inside the club at 50 N.E. 11th St. when the shooting happened around 3 a.m.
Police said the shooting stemmed from a dispute that happened earlier in the evening. They said they have some leads but no suspects. It's not known if there is any surveillance tape to release at this point.
"I blame whoever runs Club Nocturnal," said the victim's mother. "They are fully responsible."
A police source told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that two weapons were found inside the club.
"At the end of the day, the club is responsible," said Beautelus. "There was no reason for him to be shot and killed."
Despite phone calls to Club Nocturnal's telephone numbers, CBS4 was not able to reach anyone at the Club for comment.
"I just know whatever I do, I am going to miss my brother," said Jasmine Woods.
"We all know that weapons and liquor don't mix," said lead Miami Police detective Confesor Gonzalez. "This is very unsettling. Anyone who sells liquor has to check patrons for weapons."
Club Nocturnal is a well-known inner-city hot spot. Its website shows pulsating music and is aimed at attracting a younger crowd.
Among those wounded were 20-year-old Ronald Cerve of North Miami, 27-year-old Maxon Clarke and 27-year-old Ricat Pierre of Miami. His sister told D'Oench that she did not want to comment about the shooting.
Cerve was treated and released from Jackson Memorial Hospital. As of Monday afternoon, Pierre. Maxon Clarke, Mac Isidor and Emilio Lopez were still at JM.
A bar worker at the club, Manuel Gutierrez, said of the shooting, "It was terrible. I thought I was going to die. I look to my right and I see the gun shooting, like firing. It sounded like fire crackers."
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call Miami Police or Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
