One Prince George’s County strip club was ordered closed and another faces possible sanctions after a shooting and double stabbing at the two businesses, according to police.
One man remains in critical condition after being shot several times during an attempted robbery outside the Star Dust Lounge, a District Heights strip club that previously was targeted by police for closure, officials said.
County police shuttered the club Friday, two days after the shooting, saying it had violated its use and occupancy permit by allowing nude dancing. Use and occupancy permits issued in 2008 allowed for the Star Dust to operate as an “auditorium,” police spokesman Lt. William Alexander said.
“It doesn’t allow it to be a strip club,” he said of the current permit.
The shooting, which happened around 3 a.m. Wednesday, also indicated to police that the club “presented an imminent danger to the safety and welfare of the public,” said Lt. Alexander, who listed that as another factor in the club’s closure.
While the shooting happened in the club’s parking lot, Lt. Alexander said, both the victim and suspect, 30-year-old Marcus Antonio McCray, were patrons who had been inside the club earlier. Mr. McCray, of Southeast Washington, was arrested the day of the shooting and is charged with attempted first-degree murder and other related crimes.
SEE ALSO: Two women arrested in P.G. club stabbing
Mr. McCray has not been charged with robbery, though officials said they intend to do so. The extent of the victim’s injuries prevented him from communicating with police until recently, but once he was able to talk with detectives he told them he had been robbed, Lt. Alexander said.
The club’s owner, listed as Myung-Joo Kang in Maryland business records, could not be reached Monday. The club will remain closed pending an appeals hearing, a date for which could not be immediately learned.
Star Dust Lounge also was closed in August 2011 as a result of violations issued by the fire marshal, though investigators also indicated at that point that topless dancing was taking place. It reopened in September 2011, but no violent incidents or other violations had been reported there since then, Lt. Alexander said.
The closure came shortly after police began enforcing the county’s new “dance hall” law, which was meant to help officials target venues that had a history of being the scene of violent incidents.
The same day police shut down the Star Dust Lounge, a double stabbing was also reported at the Hangar Club in Camp Springs.
Officials are also investigating whether that strip club could also be closed or face some form of sanctions after two women were stabbed during a fight that started inside the club but spilled outside into the parking lot. Two women, Kailah Jameka Robinson, 19, of Southeast Washington, and Ebony Deana Jackson, 22, of Northeast Washington, were both charged in connection with a double stabbing that occurred at the Hangar Club. Both victims were treated and released from the hospital.
Police were unable to provide any further information about whether they have been previously called for incidents at the Hangar Club or whether owners of the club were found to be in violation of any laws at the time of the stabbing.
A manager reached by phone at the Hangar Club declined to comment and a phone number could not be located for Nicholas J. Simonetta, who is listed as the club’s owner in Maryland business records.
Under the auspices of a public-safety law passed in 2011, the county has sought to better regulate nightclubs and other establishments to crack down on violent crime they say is associated with the businesses. The Star Dust Lounge is among seven clubs that were initially targeted for closure following passage of the dance hall legislation; however, several other, more recent closures have come as inspections teams tasked with enforcing the law have made their rounds to venues to determine whether they are following the stricter regulations.
Altogether in 2012 and 2013 thus far, officials have closed 19 businesses as part of the crackdown 16 of which remain closed, police said.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.