3 injured after shots fired at Westwood nightclub

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Multiple people are recovering after a shooting early Thursday morning at a Westwood nightclub.

Officers say they responded to the shooting at Lucille’s Blues and Diner on 4460 South Third Street around 3:30 a.m. An incident that allegedly started inside the building moved outside into the parking lot, where it escalated.

Stayce Richards, the club owner, says Lucille’s Blues and Diner has been a part of her family for decades. Named after her late mother, she says the club has been a staple in the Westwood community since the 70s.

“It’s mind-blowing because people just want to enjoy themselves,” Richards said. “Lucille’s has been here entirely too long for some young people to run us off, and I’m not going to let that happen. I’d rather run them off than let them run us off.”

What officers found was a parking lot that had been turned into a war zone when they arrived at the scene. WREG counted at least 90 evidence markers scattered throughout the parking lot.

Two people in a vehicle were found suffering from gunshot wounds. One was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and the other was taken in non-critical condition.

Police say a third person in the car was also taken to the hospital from injuries but was not shot. Two other people in the vehicle were not reported injured.

Richards says a fight broke out inside the club, but she immediately had security remove everyone involved.

“Once they were escorted to their cars, they went to their cars and got the guns. No one came into Lucille’s with a gun,” she said.

Memphis Police say this isn’t the first time a large police presence converged at the club. Back in December, court documents say two security guards were shot outside the club after denying a man entry.

However, in a turn of events, both security guards were arrested because one was a convicted felon, and the other was using a stolen gun. Richards says she wasn’t aware of their status because they were contracted through a security company.

She says this time she made sure not to make the same mistake with her new security guards.

“They’re all licensed. I have their credentials and everything,” Richards said.

It’s unclear if security opened fire during this latest incident. A police report says witnesses told officers they believed security used their weapons, but MPD says there was no security on the scene when they arrived.

As for Richards, she says she’s going to make changes to prevent this from happening again, which include going up on the age limit. Right now, patrons have to be at least 21 to enter.

“The 35 and older have something to lose. These young folks don’t have nothing to lose,” Richards said.

No arrests have been made at this time, but police say they are looking for a black Chevy Suburban that may have been involved.