City Asks Judge To Shutdown Nightclub

The city of Jackson and the Hinds County District Attorney file a motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against the Birdland nightclub.  They say the club, which had a deadly shooting last month, is a public nuisance.

According to court documents, the club lost its license on September 1, 2009 to sell beer, but they continued to do so.  The city also says that Birdland has been knowingly operating without a business license for the past 20 years.  They accuse the owners of providing inadequate security that led to criminal conduct.

In the summer 2008, the city says Jackson police met with the owner of the Birdland and told him if criminal activity at his club didn’t stop, the city might take legal action.  He promised things would improve, but they didn’t.

Between January 2006 to September 2008, police responded to 337 calls at the club, which resulted in 23 felonies and 42 misdemeanors.

On September 20, 2009, 27-year-old Yatasha Johnson died in a shooting at the nightclub.  She was a nurse who lived in Pearl.  Police say she was shot in the head by a stray bullet, while standing near the bar.  Three others were injured.

We called the club’s owner, but were unable to reach him for comment.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled in Hinds County Chancery Court before Judge Denise Owens on Wednesday, October 7th.

The suspect in last month’s deadly shooting at Birdland is in jail.  19-year-old Alvin Brown faces one count of murder and three counts of aggravated assault.  Police arrested him after he left the hospital.  He had been recovering from severe head injuries.

Investigators say he was hurt when several club patrons restrained him after they say he started shooting.