The same week Chief Jeff Curtis urged city leaders to tackle the growing problems within certain nightclubs and event centers, blood ran in the streets from another murder.
Briddell Barber was charged with murder Monday after a shooting at Teflon left one man dead in the parking lot early Sunday morning.
“We continue to research all the legal grounds we can stand on to stop these type of incidents,” Curtis said. “Recently, we have had three deaths that have all stemmed from club shootings. We are working diligently to address this issue.”
It is a campaign that Curtis and his department have recently embarked on to ensure citizens that law and order will be restored. From noise violations to violent altercations, and now even murder, some local establishments are finding ways to skirt the law when it comes to operational hours and requirements.
“It has become a nuisance,” Curtis said.
But it is a “nuisance” that Curtis has vowed to keep on the radar as he appeals for city leaders to address with stricter ordinances.
Teflon
The Teflon murder is the most recent incident within Yazoo City. But the Mound Street business has its own history with local law enforcement.
The event center owner has appeared before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in the past with complaints that he is being “targeted” by the Yazoo City Police Department.
But Curtis said Teflon has been a “continuing problem” for local law enforcement.
“There have been shootings there before,” Curtis said. “We have had to respond to many altercations there. There have been fights in the parking lot, complaints of noise. Arrests have been made both inside and outside.”
Murder was added to the list of growing concerns early Sunday morning.
According to Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers, there was a call reporting that a man had been shot at Club Teflon at 3:17 a.m.
When police and first responders arrived on the scene, the body of Justin Porter, 25, was found in the parking lot.
Shivers’ report said that Porter was pronounced dead at the scene from a gun shot wound to his chest.
“It appears as if the conflict started inside the club and eventually ended up in the parking lot,” Curtis said, adding that the investigation continues.
Barber turned himself into authorities in the next day.
Nightclub vs.
Event Center
In the midst of Sunday’s murder investigation, Curtis said it highlights the need for stricter ordinances when it comes to “event centers.”
Based on current city ordinances, there is a difference between a night club and an event center.
Nightclubs are required to close at midnight during the week and at 1:30 a.m. over the weekend.
However, event centers can remain open during all hours.
Club Teflon is considered an event center based on its permit. That is why it was still open at 3 a.m. Sunday.
Curtis said there has been an increase in permits issued for event club owners as well.
Curtis appeared before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week, requesting that stricter ordinances be applied to event centers. He would like to see event centers limited to the same operating hours as nightclubs.
“Until the city sets an ordinance that is particularly dedicated to permits given to event centers, and unless we can catch them in violation of state laws, they can remain open,” Curtis said. “But (Mayor Diane Delaware) is working hard with me to make sure we meet all the requirements to get this in place and restore law and order.”
However, while the city council prepares its potential amendments to local ordinances, Curtis said some event centers are openly breaking the law now.
“Some places are charging cover charges,” he said. “They are selling beer inside. They are selling alcohol in side. We are working with different agencies outside of the city to prove this. All of this violates state law.”
And there also ordinances already requiring security at both nightclubs and event centers.
“We do have an ordinance that states that if any establishment sells, provides or has alcohol on the premises, they still must have a bonded security staff on the grounds if there are 50 people or more,” Curtis said. “(The security staff) are also subject to background checks and must register with the police department.”
Curtis said he doesn’t know if security was on the ground at Club Teflon during the shooting.
“But they were not registered at the police department,” he added.
Restoring Law
and Order
Porter’s murder comes almost a month to the day of last month’s murder of Tyrone Collins.
Officers responded to LB’s Nightclub on Bridge Street around 1 a.m. on Feb. 21.
Collins was found dead on the scene with a gunshot wound to his chest. Another female victim was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her head.
Christopher Wiley Turnage was charged with murder and aggravated assault in the deadly altercation.
It was after the Bridge Street murder that the city council vowed to take action on the growing violent altercations at local nightclubs and event centers.
Delaware reminded the public of the city ordinance requiring security at such establishments.
Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said he would like an amendment to the ordinance that if a person is murdered at any nightclub or event center, the establishment be shut down by the city.
Twenty-eight days later, Porter was murdered at Club Teflon.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen hold its next monthly meeting on March 28 at 2 p.m. at the Yazoo City Police Department.
