The city of Jackson is suing the nightclub where a mass shooting recently took place.
Mayor John Horhn announced Friday that the city is taking legal action against The Hideaway and the owner of Deville Plaza shopping center, where the business is located. The lawsuit comes after two people were killed and six were injured in a shooting that happened in the early-morning hours of Nov. 1.
Officials identified the deceased as 20-year-old Lovdia Poindexter and 18-year-old Jada Henderson. Some of the shooting victims were Jackson State University students, and the university canceled undergraduate courses for the two days immediately after the gunfire rang out.
Since then, Horhn noted that The Hideaway has agreed to cease operations and cooperate with the ongoing investigations into the recent shooting. As part of the lawsuit, the city is looking to obtain a court order requiring the shopping center owner to improve security throughout the property, including lighting, cameras, and security personnel.
“Our goal is to make this area safer,” Horhn said. “The Hideaway’s agreement to cease operations is an important step, but our efforts must also address security across the shopping center. We are asking the court to require measures that better protect everyone who visits or works on this property. Closing a business is not the ultimate goal. Protecting lives and preventing further violence is.”
According to preliminary findings shared by law enforcement, two unidentified men wearing ski masks entered the club around the time the shooting took place.
Police have made an arrest in this case. Eddie Collier is charged with two counts of capital murder and seven counts of aggravated assault. He was given a total bond of $3.5 million. More arrests are expected.