Shooting at Mandees

agrahlma · July-13-11, 04:55 AM

DETROIT [[WXYZ) - Three people were injured and taken to the hospital after a nightclub shooting in Detroit Tuesday night. It happened at Mandee's Club on the 1300 block of Broadway just after 1:00 a.m. According to Mandee's manager, the club was crowded with somewhere between 200 to 300 people inside.
They say one victim was driven to Detroit Receiving by police and two other drove themselves. It is not known at this time the condition of the victims or what caused the shooting
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My wife and I watched the drama unfold outside of the club, from our window across the street. There are still pools of blood all over the side walk.

I remember telling my wife around 10:00 that I felt like something was going to happen at Mandee’s tonight.

**Zacha341** · July-13-11, 05:55 AM

I don't club party much but totally turned off from that downtown 'part-tae' trendy club thing. It's getting off he chain or shall I say-been of the chain! Every since that teen was killed at Club Blue that did it for me. That like this was mostly was shooting outside which could have hit anyone.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/28530278/detail.html

agrahlma · July-13-11, 07:20 AM

The Clean Detroit crew pulled-up to Mandees just as I was leaving for work. Hopefully they will have the mess cleaned-up soon. There was still a blood stained shirt and hat on the sidewalk.
The guy that we saw being carried out last night was in really bad shape – it appears to be the same guy crawling across the floor in the surveillance video.
Police response time was a slow, which is disappointing. Once they arrived they did not control the crowd [[IMO). Patrons were walking through the blood and running back and forth across the street. Two other clowns were passing out flyers to passing cars.
This club needs to be shut down!

**Danny** · July-13-11, 07:48 AM

Don't worry folks it's just a black thing.

**stasu1213** · July-13-11, 07:50 AM

I believe that the downtown club scene and the violence that it brings is a result of poor decision making on part of the Mayor, council, and other elected or appointed officials. Clubs, which pays liquor taxes, are allow to open in almost every corner of downtown while other type of business are giving a hard time. What idiot would allow a Bail Bonds and a liquor store to open on merchants row? Was it some official or officials who were paid off? Was it due to the lack of common sense displayed by those who had allowed this? Enquireing minds want to know! I am wondering the reason why liquor stores and clubs are opening in every corner of the city including downtown for the liquor tax help the state and city with their budget. There should be a distrct set aside for rowdy nightclubs and stripclubs. The liquor stores should removed from the immediate downtown area. Council, when elected by district; feet should be held to the fire by the people of their district so that these vices would not be allowed to open in the districts

**Planner3357** · July-13-11, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by agrahlma

The Clean Detroit crew pulled-up to Mandees just as I was leaving for work. Hopefully they will have the mess cleaned-up soon. There was still a blood stained shirt and hat on the sidewalk.
The guy that we saw being carried out last night was in really bad shape – it appears to be the same guy crawling across the floor in the surveillance video.
Police response time was a slow, which is disappointing. Once they arrived they did not control the crowd [[IMO). Patrons were walking through the blood and running back and forth across the street. Two other clowns were passing out flyers to passing cars.
This club needs to be shut down!

Unfortunate for you to wake up to that in the morning, you did mention previously somewhere that Mandees was one of the cons of living where you do.

I can only hope that LAX doesn't turn into something like that...don't need that crap on my street.

**Planner3357** · July-13-11, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

The liquor stores should removed from the immediate downtown area. Council, when elected by district; feet should be held to the fire by the people of their district so that these vices would not be allowed to open in the districts

Yes, let's get rid of all the liquor stores...no, lets not. I happen to like Jazz as it's the only one within walking distance that has a decent selection of beer. At least it doesn't look like shit and they don't even have bullet proof glass [[yet). I mean...people gotta drink. There's really only three liquor stores in immediate downtown I can think of....Leland Commissary, Jazz, and the store on Broadway...I'll take Jazz all day long over those others.

agrahlma · July-13-11, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Planner3357

Unfortunate for you to wake up to that in the morning, you did mention previously somewhere that Mandees was one of the cons of living where you do.

I can only hope that LAX doesn't turn into something like that...don't need that crap on my street.

Until now my only real issue was with the noise outside at 2:00 am during the week [[I’m ok with weekends), but now shooting!?! If they could just get that club closed down! BTW- Burt’s is not a problem, they seem to cater to an older more laid back crowd. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is the final straw for Mandees.

**English** · July-13-11, 08:14 AM

Why doesn't Detroit restrict clubs like this to a specific district/area? This way you could police the mess out of that one particular area... and those of us who don't care for clubs could be free to enjoy other parts of downtown without witnessing that madness.

**Hypestyles** · July-13-11, 08:18 AM

..is there the political will to create a "red light district" type area in the city.. clubs that cater to the "street" crowd, etc.

**English** · July-13-11, 08:34 AM

No. And that's the problem. Perception vs. reality. We have these seedy clubs, but we're not willing to acknowledge it and deal with them accordingly, because of certain sociopolitical groups who have influence in the city. Therefore things will only continue to get worse.

**mallory** · July-13-11, 08:34 AM

Little boys playing with their guns. When will these idiots grow up? Ooh, you're so cool cuz you got a gun! GMAB!

Mistake number one: most decent clubs have an attire enforced and NO ONE is allowed in wearing a hat. Don't know what that has to do with anything, but I see that a lot. I can remember back in the day when I worked in the clubs downtown, we had no shootings or fights. Why? Maybe it was the "proper attire" dress code, I don't know. Just bywatching the surveillance vid, Mandees is not a place that I would frequent. Nothing more than a thug hangout.

**English** · July-13-11, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by mallory

Mistake number one: most decent clubs have an attire enforced and NO ONE is allowed in wearing a hat. Don't know what that has to do with anything, but I see that a lot. I can remember back in the day when I worked in the clubs downtown, we had no shootings or fights. Why? Maybe it was the "proper attire" dress code, I don't know. Just bywatching the surveillance vid, Mandees is not a place that I would frequent. Nothing more than a thug hangout.

HUGE, huge problem right now in Detroit in particular, and among the hip-hop generation in particular. My sister pointed out that while many promoters around town are trying to promote "white parties" [[all white attire), there is little class in what guests choose to wear. For instance, the "white party" at Chene Park featured young men in white t-shirts, shorts, baseball caps and gym shoes, while the girls were in the sluttiest white dresses possible. She talked about all the bad behavior. Which is ridiculous if they really wish to imitate Diddy's parties in the Hamptons -- there *is* an enforced dress code there.

Frankly, I never thought I'd see dress decline in general [[and in Detroit) to the point that it has. It's a sore point for me, one which makes some think I'm an elitist. But there was a time when even working class and working poor people cared more about how they looked -- even CRIMINALS cared about looking a certain way. These new millennium children bewilder me.

agrahlma · July-13-11, 08:42 AM

I’m seriously considering taking the necessary steps to break my lease and move out. This event was too close for comfort. I’ve lived in-and-out of the city for the past 20 years and I’m finally nearing the point of giving-up. I guess I was naive in thinking that things were getting better, but with all of the shootings Downtown so far this year, I’m obviously wrong. I can move back out to the suburbs and be bored out of my mind – but at least I’ll be safe!

**French777** · July-13-11, 09:16 AM

Its stories like this that make me sick. Downtown can seem so friendly during the daytime, from the Detroit Riverwalk to Campus Martius it is honestly, to me, rather peaceful, yet in the same way, full of excitement. Yet, it seems that once the sun goes down; Tiger Fans go home; downtown goes from peaceful/excitement, to a totally different kind of downtown.

I would be in full agreement of Closing Nightclubs downtown that are prone to having these kinds of incidents. I understand the City and State receive a great deal of money from liquor taxes. But, with these incidents, money in the city coffers can't necessarily replace the comfort and safety that is taken away.

That is really too bad that these instances are reconsidering your move downtown. Downtown needs more working professionals! If downtown is not going well,consider a move to Midtown! I have lived in Midtown since August 2010 and have had ZERO complaints.

**corktownyuppie** · July-13-11, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by agrahlma

I’m seriously considering taking the necessary steps to break my lease and move out. This event was too close for comfort. I’ve lived in-and-out of the city for the past 20 years and I’m finally nearing the point of giving-up. I guess I was naive in thinking that things were getting better, but with all of the shootings Downtown so far this year, I’m obviously wrong. I can move back out to the suburbs and be bored out of my mind – but at least I’ll be safe!

I understand where your alarm is coming from. I only live 1/2 mile from there or so. At the same time, downtown doesn't feel any less safe to me. I mean, your much more likely to find me at the MGM Casino or a Tiger game on a Saturday night than at a thuggish club at 1am on a Wednesday.

Hate to say it, but with rare exception, most of the shootings at these sorts of incidents involve young men in crowded nightclubs. You don't ever hear of a drug deal gone bad at the DIA. It's never, "I was playing bocce ball at Campus Martius, and then all of sudden 7 dudes roll up in an Escalade and just firing everywhere." Or "An incident involving 5 guys arguing about a Coney Dog at Lafayette Coney Island turned ugly when someone pulled a gun and started firing."

It's sad to say, but I'm not shocked when I hear things got dangerous at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday night at a club catering to the "thug life" demographic.

agrahlma · July-13-11, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

I understand where your alarm is coming from. I only live 1/2 mile from there or so. At the same time, downtown doesn't feel any less safe to me. I mean, your much more likely to find me at the MGM Casino or a Tiger game on a Saturday night than at a thuggish club at 1am on a Wednesday.

Hate to say it, but with rare exception, most of the shootings at these sorts of incidents involve young men in crowded nightclubs. You don't ever hear of a drug deal gone bad at the DIA. It's never, "I was playing bocce ball at Campus Martius, and then all of sudden 7 dudes roll up in an Escalade and just firing everywhere." Or "An incident involving 5 guys arguing about a Coney Dog at Lafayette Coney Island turned ugly when someone pulled a gun and started firing."

It's sad to say, but I'm not shocked when I hear things got dangerous at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday night at a club catering to the "thug life" demographic.

I agree with everything that you’re saying – it really depends on when and where you decide to hang-out. My real concern is for my wife and 13-year-old son [[lives with me ½ time) – if it were just me, then it would be less of an issue. God forbid, some idiot decides to fire his gun in the air and it goes through our window. I realize that these things can happen anywhere; however, it seems much more likely to happen around here.

**corktownyuppie** · July-13-11, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by agrahlma

I agree with everything that you’re saying – it really depends on when and where you decide to hang-out. My real concern is for my wife and 13-year-old son [[lives with me ½ time) – if it were just me, then it would be less of an issue. God forbid, some idiot decides to fire his gun in the air and it goes through our window. I realize that these things can happen anywhere; however, it seems much more likely to happen around here.

Sure, I totally understand. It's a lot easier being single. That said, before you pack your bags for Oakland County, you could just join us a little to the west in Corktown. A little quieter, still close to downtown...and you also get Slow's, Mudgie's, and Nemos!

agrahlma · July-13-11, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Sure, I totally understand. It's a lot easier being single. That said, before you pack your bags for Oakland County, you could just join us a little to the west in Corktown. A little quieter, still close to downtown...and you also get Slow's, Mudgie's, and Nemos!

LOL – tempting, but I already fell prey to temptation by moving down here.

**rencense** · July-13-11, 10:07 AM

I'm 100% in agreement that they need to crack down on nightclubs downtown especially where shit like this happens. The only really bad things I've ever witnessed downtown were directly related to clubs; they're just a formula for violence and guns waiting to happen.

mix alcohol, drugs, testosterone, thugs, and something as dumb as a glance at "yer girl" or some scuffed kicks or something stupid and it can degenerate very quickly. Its just a bad environment for that. Consolidate the clubs somewhere, ramp up enforcement, whatever but do something. When shootings [[or any serious violence) can't be controlled it reflects badly on the owners.

When I was in honduras you couldn't even go to a bar at night without a patdown much less a nightclub. At the bare minimum they should make damn sure you aren't bringing a gun into the club [[that should cut down on this stuff a lot tho it still cant prevent someone from coming back with one and firing outside).

I'll join others pleading with you not to abandon town just yet. Midtown etc may be worth a look; granted its still not novi in terms of safety but at least not loaded with clubs full of thugs.

DetroitPole · July-13-11, 10:28 AM

I don't believe things are getting better, either, and despite being a Detroit resident, I believe I am far too jaded to be considered a cheerleader, however, here is something to consider when considering moving to the suburbs:
Detroit first had white flight, then had middle-class black flight, then working-class black flight, now it just has flight - of everyone. Housing values are so low in the Metro region that anybody can afford to live anywhere. Detroit is fast emptying out almost entirely, as we have seen in the last census, and a lot of these problematic folks are moving to the suburbs. Their problems and lack of values will follow them - and no, this is not meant to be a racist [[if anything this is a class issue, now involving the perpetual underclass moving out of Detroit) dig, so I hope it isn't interpeted as that. Detroit's problems aren't going away - they're becoming more widely dispersed, now to the suburbs.
So while I doubt Novi is going to end up light Brightmoor anytime soon, I don't think the grass is going to be as green as in years prior. Factor in all the budget cuts in virtually every suburb while less cops, fire, and school funding, and you've got a recipe for much crappier places.
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide.

**tarynd85** · July-13-11, 11:04 AM

These shootings are getting ridiculous. Something HAS to be done. Last night at midnight, I heard a gun shot and ran out on the balcony to see what was going on. My boyfriend was out on a bike ride, so I was looking for him. There was a couple people running down the street. Luckily my boyfriend was already in our elevator. A few minutes later a couple cop cars came and pulled up to, I believe, the strip club on Griswold and Grand River. They were walking up and down Grand River and Washington with flashlights looking for something. My boyfriend said that when he rode by earlier, there was a group of people sitting in the parking lot in lawn chairs. Then, just an hour later, the shooting at Mandees takes place?! There has been WAY too many issues with guns lately and it makes me very uncomfortable living down here. I never had issues before, but clubs and bars have to REALLY start cracking down. [[along with the gun laws...but that's a whooole new topic)

**chitaku** · July-13-11, 11:59 AM

I've been downtown in the GCP hood for 3.5 years now and it has gotten worse every year. Grand Circus Park has gotten worse and that block of Broadway has been horrible for a while now. When i go to the Well I walk around Broadway to get home. LAX is on the verge if being the same. Both nights it was open this past weekend were chaos! Adams was jam packed with cars and when it closed the cops came and towed every car which created even more chaos until about 3 AM. What a debacle.

**joesmithrocks** · July-13-11, 12:02 PM

Hey agrahlma.

Sorry to hear about the shooting.

As you know, writing to your neighbor, "sorry to hear about the shooting" is an awful thing. I'm right here with you. I don't know what to do. My lease is up in September. I can't decide if I'm staying or leaving. This is the best time of year down here. I've been on the riverfront several times a week - in spite of the shootings there earlier this year. I'm still walking the streets, to get a drink and a bite to eat, in spite of the shootings under my window at Kingdom night club. Although, I don't walk the streets after 11:00 during the week, and I try not to after 12:30 or 1:00 on the weekend.

But I'm still not over the shootings. Especially the big one at Kingdom a couple months ago. They haunt me. Last Saturday, I believe I witnessed a car-to-car shooting at the intersection of Beaubien and Larned. I watched a car circle back to another car [[pulling the wrong way up Larned and circling through the surface parking lot then driving over the sidewalk to get back and next-to the other car), pull up along side, exchange words, heard a pop and broken glass, and watched the car speed off - doing a huge donut in the middle of the intersection like outlaws circling on their horses. The second car drove off, too. In the morning I saw the broken glass in the street. But there were no cops. No anything.

This is all foreign to me. I'm a country boy at heart. I love the city. I love the way it inspires me. But I hate the way it frightens me. I do not want this violence that is suddenly within close proximity to me to become "normal." I don't want to be over it. But I don't want it ruling me either.

Will I move? I don't know. When I'm on the riverfront, in the sunshine. I say no. When I'm enjoying the spectacular view from my super awesome apartment, I say no. When my friends visit and are blown away by how cool my place and my surroundings are, I say no.

But when the guns clap and the blood spills, I say get me the fuck out of here.