The mother of a man shot to death inside a strip club by a stray bullet, was urging the Birmingham City Council to close the club to prevent other homicides in the area.
Cassandra Dunn, whose son Allen was killed inside Mike’s Crossroads strip club on Jan. 22, told the council recently that the club breeds crime and that it should be closed, NBC13 in Birmingham reported.
But police officials said the man, who became the city’s 11th homicide victim, was shot to death by a stray bullet fired during a robbery outside and away from the club.
Council members listened to Dunn’s empassioned plea, but ultimately voted to allow the club to keep its business license and continue to operate.
Councilwoman Valerie Abbott said she empathized with Dunn but voted in favor of the club keeping its license. Although she requested more information on the matter, Abbott said she was reluctant to close the club when it was apparent that the incident was not related to the club.
She explained that she didn’t want to take away the livelihood of the club’s employees or its owners unnecessarily.
The city’s Public Safety Committee will now speak to police officers involved in the incident provide additional information to Dunn.
