Karen Shaerf of Club red has issued this official statement over the shooting and death in Butcher Row last Sunday: "A terrible incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning by the bus stop in Butcher Row just outside RED and Simon House when Curtis Smith, a 35 year old man from West London, was gunned down and died from bullet wounds to the head and neck."
Club doormen tried to save the man's life but he was too badly wounded. When the Medics arrived, they worked on him for over half an hour but to no avail and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Our door security witnessed Mr Smith stepping out of a black BMW just before he was shot – please note that he had NOT been inside Club RED and we don’t know whether he was heading for RED, one of the other clubs that was open at the Cables Street Studios, or some
other place or residence.
The party that was going on inside the club was going very well until the incident occurred. The atmosphere and vibe had been positive with everyone having a good time. We didn’t have any trouble from customers throughout the night and there weren’t any customers from RED hanging around outside drinking or causing any trouble.
The victim HAD NOT BEEN inside RED. It was an extremely unfortunate incident that took place outside the club.
There were probably near on 1000 people in total partying safely within the complex, and everything was kept under control with very few realising what had happened until they went to exit at the main gates where there was a lot of police presence and cordons stopping anyone contaminating the crime scene on Butcher Row.
Only once the customers from inside Red had been cooped up for nearly an hour on police instructions (no one was allowed in or out of the club) was there any trouble, when at this time they rioted to leave the club, which they then did in a quick and orderly manner once they had broken through the barricade holding them in.
I would like to praise each one of my staff and security for dealing with this terrible situation in an extremely professional, competent and calm manner. We also had security from the other clubs in the complex helping us to control the leaving crowds from the other clubs and everyone worked together as a team.
One thing that this incident has proven is that the management strategy and risk assessment that we have in place for the complex does indeed work well.
Detectives from Operation TRIDENT, which investigates gun crime among young black people, have been heading this enquiry and have our CCTV to aid in their investigation. A young man has since handed himself in to a south London police station at 7pm on Sunday evening but police are still asking for witnesses to come forward.
Karen Shaerf
Director – Club Red
END
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