Photo: iStockphoto
Violent crime continues to plague the Houston area, and one of the many things helping it along are illegal after-hours clubs that are frequently the scenes of shootings and other often violent crimes.
These clubs operate often without the proper licensing, during hours that most other nightclubs aren’t open. The clientele at these clubs are usually a mix of both hardened criminals and folks simply looking for a good time, who find out about these clubs on social media without knowing anything illegal is happening.
Ken Nealy with the Houston Police Officers Union says those non-criminal patrons are put at risk by the criminals running these clubs. He said, “A lot of times, people are in there with weapons. You have people who have already shown they have ill regard for the laws of the State of Texas.”
He said these clubs are regularly the scenes of drug deals and other illicit transactions, and violence breaking out is not uncommon. Just this last weekend, a shooting occurred at Latina Sports Bar on Hillcroft Avenue and Sands Point Drive, leaving one dead and six others injured.
In a press briefing following the shooting, Assistant Chief J. Skelton said, “Establishments like this that harbor within our city contribute to crime.”
Ken Nealy said that while HPD and other local authorities have been working hard to crack down on these clubs, social media has made things difficult. He says, “With social media and everyone having smartphones, it’s so easy for these establishments to pop up quickly, and then word gets out via social media.”
He went on to say that that’s why these clubs are often able to operate completely under the radar until a violent incident occurs, and authorities have to respond to emergency situations like shootings.