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-- 21 Die in Chicago Nightclub Stampede
21 Die in Chicago Nightclub Stampede
Hundreds of screaming guests rushed the exits of a crowded nightclub Monday after someone used pepper spray or Mace, and at least 21 people were crushed to death or smothered in the panic, officials said.
Firefighters were forced to use sledgehammers and pry bars to open locked or blocked doors that prevented some club-goers from fleeing, Fire Commissioner James Joyce said at a late morning briefing.
"There are people trying to get out that could not get out," Joyce said. "Locked and blocked doors are a contributing factor. We can't explain how management or ownership would allow that."
The locked doors are a fire code violation, Joyce said.
Twenty-one people were confirmed dead in the tragedy at the Epitome Night Club, Chicago Police spokesman Pat Camden said. Hospitals reported treating at least 50 for everything from critical injuries to asthma-like symptoms.
"Everybody smashed; people crying, couldn't breathe," said club-goer Reggie Clark. "Two ladies next to me died. A guy under me passed out."
Some witnesses reported that panic broke out after the guards used pepper spray or Mace to break up a fight, but authorities did not immediately confirm that. Police Commissioner Terry Hillard said investigators are trying to sort out conflicting stories about the source of the spray, and were retrieving a video from inside the club.
"We will get to the bottom of this," Hillard said. "Right now our investigation is at full tilt."
There were more than 1,500 people in the two-story nightclub when the spray was released sometime after 2 a.m., officials initially estimated. They could not immediately say what the legal capacity of the building was.
"It appears a disturbance from within led to a mass chaos where people headed for the door. Most of the fatalities appear to have been crushed or had injuries due to suffocation," said police Officer Ozzie Rodriguez.
The club is located in the Near South Side, a commercial district near the McCormick Place convention center.
Cory Thomas, 33, went to the club to pick up two friends. As he waited outside, he saw people inside the club start to back up against the glass front door.
"You could see a mound of people. People were stacking on top of each other, screaming and gagging, I guess from the pepper spray. The door got blocked because there were too many people stacked up against it," he said.
"I saw them taking out a pregnant woman," Thomas said. "She was in bad shape. I saw at least 10 lifeless bodies."
Kristy Mitchell, 22, was one of the people trampled on the stairway.
"People were stomping my legs," she said. "When they pulled me up, I was dizzy and I couldn't breathe."
Amishoov Blackwell, 30, was checking his coat on the second floor when people started rushing past him. The flow of the crowd pushed him back down the stairs and he fell on top of several people, he said. He was trapped on top of the others until firefighters rescued him about 30 minutes later.
"It wasn't nothing but two girls fighting," Blackwell said. "Why'd they have to spray Mace?"
Hours after the disaster, Chiquita Rhodes was still searching for her 19-year-old sister, Charita.
"I've been to every emergency room," Rhodes said. She was told by officials to return to the medical examiner's office around noon, when the bodies would be available for relatives to identify.
She said Charita was holding onto a friend, but they were separated in the crush. A firefighter found Charita's cell phone, she added.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson (news - web sites) arrived at the scene early Monday and urged community members to help each other.
"We are asking area ministers to go to hospitals," Jackson said. "My people are overwhelmed with the suddenness of this. At a time like this, you have to lean on your faith."
The president of a Chicago entertainment agency that has booked acts at the club said access to the building was unsafe for large crowds.
"The doorway was obviously inadequate for an emergency," said Ron Onesti of Onesti Entertainment Co. "When the place is filled to capacity, the doorway is very thin."
Photographs on Onesti's Web site depict packed crowds at the nightclub. Onesti maintained that his agency had nothing to do with managing the club and hadn't had any dealings involving it in about a year.
another excuse for Bush to close night clubs
This is not an electronic music night club, so they cannot blame any of this on the drug scene. This place is probably something comparable to Club 112 in Atlanta. Although Bush probably will try to blame it on rising presence of mdma in clubs. He's such a fucking jackass.
[/rant]
All I can say is Hip Hop club... Seems to draw the worst elements in clubland...Used to it live in Miami, its always like that especially on special holidays such as this weekend..What a shame...
i woke up to this one the tv...thas some scary stuff...this just helps out the closin of clubs...electronic or not...
what a shame, seems kinda odd pepper spray was used though...when i heard that i thought it was gonna be a huge crowd brawl, but spray for 2 girls??
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| Originally posted by Blik another excuse for Bush to close night clubs |
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| Although Bush probably will try to blame it on rising presence of mdma in clubs. He's such a fucking jackass |
Those f*cks in D.C. will prolly use this as an example for the new RAVE act. Related to E or not. Such a shame for the families.
Funny considering the management is the one to blame.
this is crazy..in one way its good so people can see that stuff happenens in all clubs and not only raves or electronic clubs but its sad to think that so many people died because of 3 girls fighting!!!!!!!pathetic
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| Originally posted by Cyberwoo Considering the subject of this thread I think its very low of you to use it as an excuse to rant and call Bush a "fucking jackass". Just my 2 cents. |
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| Originally posted by dj2kTA Those f*cks in D.C. will prolly use this as an example for the new RAVE act. Related to E or not. Such a shame for the families. |
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| I just believe that the United States government will try to blame this on drugs, and that this will lead to the further demise of club culture in the US for everybody based on the wrong reasons. my 2 cents. |
Anyway my point is its downright silly to think the US government has it out for all nightclubs like its some conspiracy or something. Concern has been raised regarding some of the clubs and the drugged out psycho teens that frequent them. If kids behaved themselves and took some responsability when at these clubs you wouldn't have to worry about it. We all know that aint gonna happen so get over it. With all the problems going on in the world at this time its childish to whine about nightclubs being shutdown. Get a f'n grip people.
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| Originally posted by Cyberwoo Anyway my point is its downright silly to think the US government has it out for all nightclubs like its some conspiracy or something. |
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| Originally posted by uwmadtrance It would also be downright silly for the government to run anti-marijuana adds claiming that it impairs a teenage girl's judgement enough for her to get pregnant. But then again, they do have those adds. |
The latest news: The club shouldn't have even been open due to safety violations. Criminal charges against the owner, along with several lawsuits (maybe as many as 21) should go down today(Tuesday). The owner had violated court orders by opening, and then likely exceeding the capacity.
There are also reports some people yelled "Terrorist attack" when the spray was used setting off the panick.
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| It would also be downright silly for the government to run anti-marijuana adds claiming that it impairs a teenage girl's judgement enough for her to get pregnant. |
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