T.I.'s Entourage Involved in After-Hours Shooting In Cincinnati

A van believed to belong to rapper T.I. was found near the site of a recent shooting at a Cincinnati nightclub. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the incident culminated in shootings that occurred around 3:20 a.m., after a verbal altercation and possible scuffle took place inside Club Ritz, the site of an after-hours party for T.I. and Young Joc. One person is dead and three others were injured. According to witnesses, the scuffle moved outside and shots were fired. Officers said the shots were fired into two vans containing T.I.'s entourage on southbound I-75, beginning near the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway and ending near Mitchell Avenue. The entourage was leaving the club when the shots were fired. A van believed to be T.I.'s was found on I-75. As a result, three miles of interstate were closed Wednesday (May 3) morning. The rappers performed Tuesday (May 2) at Bogarts. Police dispatches noted numerous officers were present around the area of Short Vine when the concert ended. There appeared to be no problems. The names and conditions of those involved in the shooting were not available, according to the Enquirer . Four people in T.I.'s entourage, including one woman, were treated at University Hospital. The woman was traveling in one van, while three men were in the other. T.I., (born Tip Harris) was not injured. A man believed to be one of the victims and bandages on his arm and was taken out of the hospital before 7 a.m. by a police officer. Two other victims were treated and released around the same time. The incident marks the latest chapter in a string of violent incidents at Club Ritz. Last year, three people were shot outside the club following a fight. The nightclub has come under fire from community and police, who asked the Cincinnati City Council to shut the facility down. The request was rejected by council members, who voted against it. The club's owner, Andrew Williams, said the bar was closing until he and other workers could resolve problems with security. In addition to guaranteeing plenty of paid police and security, Williams said he would stop keeping the bar open after hours and promised to put up barricades around the parking lot to control traffic.