Monet Lounge Temporarily Closed After Shooting
By: Melissa Toupin
All is quiet outside Monet Lounge on Harris Ave. in Providence today. A stark contrast from earlier this morning when two suspects opened fire in the parking lot, killing one, and injuring another.
This afternoon the cities Board of Licenses evoked their emergency powers and suspended the club's license.
“Public safety is definitely at risk,” said Providence Board of Licenses Chairman Andrew Annaldo. “I think we should move to immediately close the establishment and have an open hearing within 72 hours.”
Patrolman Michael Pattie was working a detail at the club last night and was first on the scene. During a meeting at the Providence Public Safety Complex this afternoon, he testified all those involved were club patrons. He also said that earlier in the night officers had identified the victims as having the potential to cause a problem, but that the club did nothing.
Two suspects are in custody, and a gun has been recovered. It's not clear exactly what led up to the incident, but police say they are interviewing the living victim.
“The victim of the gun shot wound characterized it as a minor verbal altercation that precipitated what happened out in the parking lot,” said Capt. Michael Correia of the Providence Police Department.
Monet Lounge has been in trouble in the past. Back in May a large fight broke out inside. Two women were seriously hurt. In that incident the club was fined and had to take steps to increase public safety.
The city Board of Licenses says the overnight fatal shooting is disappointing. “We will investigate in the hearing and see what they did, or didn't do to maintain the public safety,” said Annaldo.
ABC6 did reach out to Monet Lounge owner, Dimitrios Liakos. We were told by a club representative that the lounge does not have a comment at this time.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 PM at City Hall.
