Deadly Battle of Words Could Shut Down Bug Jar
By: Tina Shively
Updated: June 18, 2012
A popular local nightclub is at risk of shutting down after a deadly shooting.
Just after 12 AM Monday, a battle of words turned into much more outside the Bug Jar on Monroe Avenue.
A 21-year-old victim, who police have not identified, was shot and later died at Strong Hospital.
Rochester Police Chief Jim Sheppard explained. "My understanding was that the event was a rap battle where combatants battle on the stage, and as a result a fight erupted and this was our end result."
The performers' argument rippled into the audience, those arguing were forced out into the street.
Police at the scene tell us the crowd grew to about one hundred people.
Brenda Ocque was visiting her daughter in her apartment above the bar.
She says it seemed most of the crowd was targeting one man, and they followed him across the street to a parking lot.
She said "He tried to get away from the people that were beating him up, and ran in to the car and then they went into the car after him and shot him...you could hear the gun shots and everything too, but you really couldn't see. It rocked the building too."
That's when Ocque yelled at her family to get away from the window.
She says the last time the bar had this type of concert, police were also called in.
She'd like to see rap battles dropped from the bar's calendar.
"They shouldn't have something like that going on if that's like the second time this has happened," added Ocque. "They should quit the hip-hop thing all together if that's what's going to happen."
This is the third violent event at the Bug Jar in the last four months, according to police.
On March 9, officers responded to a fight.
On April 15, a customer pulled a knife on a security guard.
Rochester police have a point system for businesses with violations.
The Bug Jar has now racked up enough points for the city to shut it down.
Officers with the police department's Neighborhood Service Center plan to meet with the bar's owner and the city attorney later this week to discuss the bar's future.
News 8 could not reach the Bug Jar's owners for comment.
Just after 12 AM Monday, a battle of words turned into much more outside the Bug Jar on Monroe Avenue.
A 21-year-old victim, who police have not identified, was shot and later died at Strong Hospital.
Rochester Police Chief Jim Sheppard explained. "My understanding was that the event was a rap battle where combatants battle on the stage, and as a result a fight erupted and this was our end result."
The performers' argument rippled into the audience, those arguing were forced out into the street.
Police at the scene tell us the crowd grew to about one hundred people.
Brenda Ocque was visiting her daughter in her apartment above the bar.
She says it seemed most of the crowd was targeting one man, and they followed him across the street to a parking lot.
She said "He tried to get away from the people that were beating him up, and ran in to the car and then they went into the car after him and shot him...you could hear the gun shots and everything too, but you really couldn't see. It rocked the building too."
That's when Ocque yelled at her family to get away from the window.
She says the last time the bar had this type of concert, police were also called in.
She'd like to see rap battles dropped from the bar's calendar.
"They shouldn't have something like that going on if that's like the second time this has happened," added Ocque. "They should quit the hip-hop thing all together if that's what's going to happen."
This is the third violent event at the Bug Jar in the last four months, according to police.
On March 9, officers responded to a fight.
On April 15, a customer pulled a knife on a security guard.
Rochester police have a point system for businesses with violations.
The Bug Jar has now racked up enough points for the city to shut it down.
Officers with the police department's Neighborhood Service Center plan to meet with the bar's owner and the city attorney later this week to discuss the bar's future.
News 8 could not reach the Bug Jar's owners for comment.
