Chapel Hill Nightclub Where 6 Were Shot Is Closing

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A Chapel Hill nightclub where six people were injured early Monday in a gang-related shooting is closing, its management said Thursday afternoon.

"We would like to assure everyone that this was an isolated incident, and we are taking proactive measures to ensure the safety, integrity and well-being of the Chapel Hill community," the management of Visions Nite Club said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.

Authorities said the shooting was the result of a dispute that led to one person firing six rounds of ammunition, injuring two security workers and four bar patrons.

Police have not named a suspect in the shooting. Low lighting and confusion helped the shooter get out of the club, police said.

"We are conducting a complete review of the incident, and based on our current assessment, we feel that it is best that we permanently close Visions Nite Club, effective immediately," the news release said.

Chapel Hill police have said the owners of the members-only club have been cooperative in their investigation and that the nightclub had a good security plan in place at the time of the shooting.

Nonetheless, members of the Chapel Hill business community have expressed concern about the amount of violence connected with the downtown night scene in recent years.

Last year, the town shut down a nightclub after a man died when he was shot 12 times there. Another club, which was in the same location as Visions, lost its liquor license after a number of shootings outside.

Since January, police have been called to Visions 30 times for complaints ranging from trespassing to assault to disruptive conduct.

Visions management said it realized it could not control the actions of all its patrons, and it did not condone any acts of violence "in or around our establishment."

"It was always our goal to provide a comfortable, secure entertainment venue for all to enjoy, and while we realize that we cannot control the actions of all patrons, please be assured that we do not in any way condone or encourage any acts of violence in or around our establishment," the statement said.