Pawtucket club deemed ‘public nuisance’ after overnight shooting

“In this particular case, the business is directly affecting the surrounding neighborhood, and placing the public safety of our community in jeopardy.”

PAWTUCKET, R.I (WLNE)- A Pawtucket nightclub has been deemed a ‘public nuisance’ after a clubgoer was shot five times early Friday morning.

Pawtucket Board of Commissioners voted to temporarily close the Vibe Lounge on Broad Street, for at least two weeks, in an emergency meeting held Saturday.

Pawtucket police said they received multiple reports of shots fired from inside the lounge Friday.

When officers arrived, they found a 32-year-old man who was shot five times inside the lounge. He was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Police said mutual aid was called from surrounding departments in effort to control the large crowd, as well as the crime scene from the shooting.

The department says they believe allowing the business to remain open is a threat to public safety. According to the department, this is the fifth violent incident at the club since February.

“The City and Police Department always prioritize working with our local businesses to help them succeed in a safe environment,” said Acting Public Safety Director and Police Chief Tina Goncalves.

“In this particular case, the business is directly affecting the surrounding neighborhood, and placing the public safety of our community in jeopardy.”

Pawtucket police deemed Vibe Lounge “a menace to the public health, welfare, or safety.” The department also noted the lounge received “numerous violations of COVID-19 regulations” in addition to the recent violence.

The next meeting to discuss the future of Vibe Lounge is is set for May 11.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.