Man killed in D.C. nightclub stabbing; another man fatally shot in Southeast
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Version 0 of 1. Two men were killed Wednesday night and early Thursday in separate attacks in Southeast Washington and at a nightclub in Northeast, according to D.C. police. A shooting occurred about 9:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of Q Street SE, a residential neighborhood in Fairlawn between Minnesota Avenue and the Anacostia Freeway. Police said Norman Joaquin, 42, of Southeast was pronounced dead at the scene. No other information was immediately released. About 1:10 a.m., a man was fatally stabbed at the Layla Lounge nightclub, in the 500 block of Morse Street NE near Gallaudet University and Union Market, police said. The club, nestled between food warehouse centers, advertised a live DJ for its weekly “Levels Wednesday” night, and social media photos showed long lines at the door. The victim was identified as Eric Jones, 19, of Clinton in Prince George’s County. Police said he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Relatives could not be reached Thursday to comment. In addition to the police probe, the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration is investigating the stabbing and the club’s security procedures. The liquor license was transferred when the club was sold byBud and Papa Inc. to Precious Pies and Catering, trading as Layla Lounge and owned by Judy England, according to records. England did not return messages left with Precious Pies and Catering. The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has investigated Layla Lounge three times since September — for an assault by a patron on a police officer, an assault with a deadly weapon and making a “substantial change” in the building that was not approved. A fight at the lounge that ended with three people shot outside the club led the board to hold a “fact-finding hearing” in October 2014. Nobody was seriously wounded during the fight, and police testified at the hearing that all were bystanders caught in a barrage of bullets. Board members expressed concern that the club then did not hire off-duty police officers, and there were discrepancies about whether anyone in the lounge had called 911. Police said the first call about the shooting came from a bystander or victim and that nobody called police when the fight started. At the time of the hearing, Layla Lounge was under different ownership than it is now. But England, the current owner, did testify, describing herself as a manager who was close to the then-owner. The board took no action against the lounge. To fine the club or suspend its license, the board must find a direct link between the operations of the bar and the incident. Perry Stein contributed to this report. |