violence/fatal shooting in downtown Entertainment District

[Ragin]

heard this on channel 7 news at 11pm ..

wkbw.com


May 21, 2006 - Buffalo police are investigating a fatal shooting, a stabbing and an attack on a police officer after a wild night in the downtown club district. Police say the shooting happened around 1 am near the intersection of Pearl and Chippewa. The victim, 21 year old Lamar Williams died at the scene. Williams was behind the wheel of a minivan, stopped in traffic on Pearl Street, when the gunman came up to the vehicle and shot him in the face. It's believed the victim was either heading to or coming from the Tralf nightclub less than a block away.

A short time earlier The Tralf was the scene of a ruckus after a larger than anticipated crowd showed up for a concert by Hip Hop performer Jim Jones. "There were probably about a thousand to fifteen hundred people waiting to get into the club that couldn't get in," said the Tralf's Rohit Kapoor. He added that some people tried to rush the doors which were locked; Our first priority was to keep everybody inside the club safe." As locked out patrons spilled out in to the street, police were called. A female officer was struck on the head. As police made an arrest in connection with assault on the officer, the man they had in custody began complaining of a pain in his side. Police soon found out why--he'd been stabbed. 36 year old Lamar Williams was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery this morning. His condition was being characterized as Good.

One business owner, Joey Marcella, blamed the violence on the type of act playing at the Tralf. "Hip Hop does not belong on Main Street," said Marcella referring to performer Jim Jones. Tralf owner Rohit Kapoor countered that it was not about Hip Hop but about crowd control. "It would've happened at a Hip Hop show, a Rock show or anything, said Kapoor adding "if we had three thousand people waiting to get in line it could've happened."

[Stevenco]

It's not about the black culture. It's about hiphop, Gangsta. It's glorified.
It's a phenomenon. It wouldn't have happened, or I should say, probably wouldn't have happened at a rock show.
Watch hiphop videos. You'll see what I mean.

[Ragin]

It's not about the black culture. It's about hiphop, Gangsta. It's glorified.
It's a phenomenon. It wouldn't have happened, or I should say, probably wouldn't have happened at a rock show.
Watch hiphop videos. You'll see what I mean.

Just to be clear ... It wasn't my intention to imply everyone that showed up at The Tralf were black.

Hip Hop seems to cover a wide variety of music now that I'm not even sure what I'm listening to anymore

[buffy]

the Tralf is way too small to book those kinds of acts...the Tralf is best utilized for intimate small scale audiences; it was designed as a jazz club.

The new owner doesn't know what he's doing, that was evident by his ignorance on crowd control - he's only interested in making money

[Ragin]

From The Tralf website: "Tickets available at the TRALF box office 11am-5pm Monday through Friday and 2 hours prior to each show."

I don't know who this Jim Jones is, but it's apparent he's quite popular.

I think anytime a venue holds a concert performed by a well known entertainer, esp. with the availability of tickets being sold at the door, there should be an expectation of large crowds.

Security was lacking and the owners of The Tralf should have had the foresight to prepare for the crowds. They've been in business long enough to know.

[atotaltotalfan2001]

heard this on channel 7 news at 11pm ..

wkbw.com


May 21, 2006 - Buffalo police are investigating a fatal shooting, a stabbing and an attack on a police officer after a wild night in the downtown club district. Police say the shooting happened around 1 am near the intersection of Pearl and Chippewa. The victim, 21 year old Lamar Williams died at the scene. Williams was behind the wheel of a minivan, stopped in traffic on Pearl Street, when the gunman came up to the vehicle and shot him in the face. It's believed the victim was either heading to or coming from the Tralf nightclub less than a block away.

A short time earlier The Tralf was the scene of a ruckus after a larger than anticipated crowd showed up for a concert by Hip Hop performer Jim Jones. "There were probably about a thousand to fifteen hundred people waiting to get into the club that couldn't get in," said the Tralf's Rohit Kapoor. He added that some people tried to rush the doors which were locked; Our first priority was to keep everybody inside the club safe." As locked out patrons spilled out in to the street, police were called. A female officer was struck on the head. As police made an arrest in connection with assault on the officer, the man they had in custody began complaining of a pain in his side. Police soon found out why--he'd been stabbed. 36 year old Lamar Williams was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery this morning. His condition was being characterized as Good.

One business owner, Joey Marcella, blamed the violence on the type of act playing at the Tralf. "Hip Hop does not belong on Main Street," said Marcella referring to performer Jim Jones. Tralf owner Rohit Kapoor countered that it was not about Hip Hop but about crowd control. "It would've happened at a Hip Hop show, a Rock show or anything, said Kapoor adding "if we had three thousand people waiting to get in line it could've happened."

I'm confused. Is Lamar Williams 21 or 36 and is he dead or alive and recovering?

[Deerhunter]

I didn't see the owner of the Club fighting with anyone. This misplaced blame condones the behavior of the savages that were fighting. Call a spade a spade. And the kid that got killed outside the Groove was 21. At this time it doesn't appear related to the Tralf incident. Note to all " when things don't go your way act in a violent manner, it is accepted in this society." That people think like this is the reason the world is the way it is. Have some responsibility for your own actions instead of blaming someone or something else.

[WNYresident]

Do what most do... blame society for your actions versus taking responsibility for your own doing.

[300miles]

I'm confused. Is Lamar Williams 21 or 36 and is he dead or alive and recovering?

Poorly written article... They must have mixed up the shooting victim's name with the guy that was stabbed.

[Achbek1]

It's not about the black culture. It's about hiphop, Gangsta. It's glorified.
It's a phenomenon. It wouldn't have happened, or I should say, probably wouldn't have happened at a rock show.
Watch hiphop videos. You'll see what I mean.

Forgive me if I'm being "politically incorrect" but I agree. You probably wouldn't see an outbreak like this at an Aretha Franklin show, or a jazz show... It's not about a color thing, it IS a culture thing.

There have been many instances where "gangsta rap" shows played in Buffalo and there were subsequent shootouts and melees...

Then again... Kenny Chesney took off on a horse at a country show in Buffalo... But at least no one got shot or stabbed.

[Stevenco]

Do what most do... blame society for your actions versus taking responsibility for your own doing.

Or blame the victum. There's another copout route.
I hate when they blame the victum.
If you leave your bicycle in your driveway and it gets stolen, alot of people will tell you it's your fault for leaving the bicycle in the driveway.
As if the thief had nothing to do with it.
Grrrr. I'm so angry I could eat a whole pound of cheese

[wheresthesun]

Or blame the victum. There's another copout route.
I hate when they blame the victum.
If you leave your bicycle in your driveway and it gets stolen, alot of people will tell you it's your fault for leaving the bicycle in the driveway.
As if the thief had nothing to do with it.
Grrrr. I'm so angry I could eat a whole pound of cheese

Oh Geeeeeez, don't do that; you won't "go" for a week.

[300miles]

Grrrr. I'm so angry I could eat a whole pound of cheese

May 22, 2006 - Buffalo police are investigating a violent cheese binge
after a wild night in the downtown club district. Police say the cheese assault happened around 5 pm near the Diet Pepsi bottle in Stevenco's refrigerator. The victim, 2 year old Wegmans Sharp Cheddar was devoured at the scene. The assailant, Mr. Stevenco, came up to the fridge, and furiously ate 1 pound of Cheddar. A motive has not been determined. It's believed the Cheese was either heading to or coming from the Tralf nightclub. One business owner, Joey Marcella, blamed the violence on the type of cheese purchased. "Sharp Cheddar does not belong on Main Street," said Marcella . Tralf owners refused to comment.

[ESP]

Well, that would explain the traffic in the area shortly after that time. I had to pick up my kid from a weekend field trip. I came down Elmwood, turned onto Chippewa and couldn't progress from there. Traffic was bumper to bumper.

Those clubs do not seem big enough to handle crowds of that size. With the amount of alcohol in the blood of those wandering the area, it's really no wonder about the violence and problems.

Driving down Chippewa in the evening is indeed entertainment in itself. I generally point and laugh... Between the drunk guys pissing on the cornerstones of buildings and the 20something females that are so desperate to find a guy that they dress in clothes 2 sizes two small (even though they're hanging out of them because they really need something 4 sizes bigger) makes me wonder "WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? DID THEY BOTHER TO LOOK IN A MIRROR? Is this what society looks for in a mate?"

Things sure have changed. Although what we did wasn't entirely better it was much more peaceful. I don't ever remember shootings and stabbings at large gatherings and parties. A few barfights here and there but that was usually resolved with someone buying a round of drinks and some good music from the jukebox (is it still called a jukebox?!)

[300miles]

Things sure have changed. Although what we did wasn't entirely better it was much more peaceful. I don't ever remember shootings and stabbings at large gatherings and parties. A few barfights here and there but that was usually resolved with someone buying a round of drinks and some good music from the jukebox (is it still called a jukebox?!)

They're still called Jukeboxes.

Although the newer ones are basically big computer hard-drives with digital music files on them. And they can even download more songs from the internet (for an extra fee).

Almost all the stabbings and shootings around the bars (and they're very few) have been tied to Hip Hop type clubs and concerts. The Sphere used to have the same problems before. Most any other club has never seen that kind of violence.