ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WLVT) - 10 people were shot, but expected to be okay, after a violent incident at the Deja Vu Nightclub on Hamilton Street in Allentown early Thursday morning.
Police say they were called to the scene at 1:56 a.m. because of shooting reports. Officials said the club was just ending when the shooting happened, but they cannot confirm what led to the incident. All of the victims were transported to local hospitals and, according to police, they are expected to survive.
"It's scary," said Allentown resident, Darrell Harris. "With a nightclub like this, you never know what can happen." Harris woke up to gunshots outside the window of his second floor apartment, which happens to be right next door to the nightclub. He said there needs to be more police activity around the area. "After 2 a.m., people get drunk, and they get crazy," said Harris. "It should be more police activity out here, so people can be safe and for the residents and the neighbors.”
Allentown Mayor Ray O'Connell addressed members of the media to reassure residents that they are safe. "We'll continue to enforce the laws that we have," said Mayor O'Connell. "It would be my mission to put any of these establishments that are a nuisance to the residents and the citizens of Allentown, to pursue those establishments and get rid of them."
A few doors down from the nightclub is the Allentown Rescue Mission. Program Director, Rob Romig, said violence is starting to become more common in the area. "It has been getting worse and worse," said Romig. "There have been several shootings in the vicinity, but a shooting of this magnitude is unheard of.”
Allentown Police Chief Tony Alsleben said the shooting was likely targeted at one person, and they believe it is gang-related. Alsleben also said some of the witnesses and victims are not cooperating with the investigation. They urge anyone with information to call the detective bureau at 610.437.7721.
