The City of Buffalo and Buffalo Police Department order the immediate closure of The Groove Lounge, 1210 Broadway at Lathrop. Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood signed an emergency issue of closure shutting down the nightclub.
This is in direct response to a homicide in the bar's parking lot early Sunday morning. The fatal shooting occurred after 3 a.m. near The Groove Lounge. Police say Marquino Green, 38, of Buffalo was struck by gunfire. He was transported to ECMC for treatment where he was later declared deceased.
But the nightclub's Attorney Steve Cohen said the club was closed at the time of the deadly shooting and did not occur on his client's property. Cohen said he believes it's a situation of prejudice and racism against the owner of the club. He refers to the charges as "bogus". He said they were presented with "bogus charges". Cohen said the club has eight security guards on premise. Cohen is claiming the charges are written as these fights that start in the club spill onto the street, which they dispute. Cohen said they have surveillance video that they have shared with police.
They are expected back in court Friday at 1:30 p.m.
The closure order posted by the City of Buffalo states "CEASE ALL OPERATIONS". "Order for immediate closure", signed by the Police Commissioner states "a dire emergency currently exists" in the area of 210 Broadway. It also states "there were hundreds of patrons in the parking lot at the time of the shooting that were extremely disorderly."
The Groove has been the scene of past troubles. In July of 2018 Buffalo Police shutdown the nightclub after an off-duty police officer was involved in a shooting outside the bar.
