The Augusta Public Services Committee determined that six months probation was appropriate after a Sept. 17 shooting at the Sumyung Ho Nightclub left four people, including an underage individual, wounded.
Members made their decisions after hearing from both a Sheriff’s investigator and an attorney for the nightclub, which is located at 519 Broad St.
All of the victims were shot in the lower extremities. Most of the injuries occurred during a fight on the dance floor, but it appears one person may have been shot outside the club.
MORE: Local Nightclub Could Face Loss of License or Probation After September Shooting
According to police records, Kameron Jones, 24, and Bertam Owens, 32, were both taken into custody, and each was charged with four counts of aggravated assault. Owens, who has a criminal record for cocaine possession and DUI, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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Sheriff’s Office investigator Jose Ortiz recommended the committee show leniency to the club’s owner, Mark Lassic, because he has been cooperative and has followed all of the advice of law enforcement in regard to public safety.
According to Ortiz, Lassic has provided his staff with hand-held metal detecting devices that apparently were not in use on the night of the shooting.
“He has done everything we have asked of him and has been very compliant. Otherwise, I might have a different recommendation,” Ortiz said.
On the issue of underage people being allowed to enter the club, Ortiz said that Jassic admitted that he uses promoters to help attract customers and that they have sometimes told the bouncer to let certain people in the club.
MORE: Two in Custody After Broad Street Club Shooting Injures Four
During his investigation, Ortiz says that he discovered that some of the promoters used by Lassic did not have city business licenses, and Lassic has agreed to use only licensed promoters in the future.
“I reminded him that those promoters were not looking out for his business. They just want to make money for themselves,” Ortiz said.
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Lassic’s attorney, Jeffery Peil, told commissioners that his firm is still investigating the matter, but he said that the club was willing to accept probation as Lassic is a retired veteran police officer and knows the law.
Peil also said that despite its racy-sounding name, the club is a family-owned business, and the club’s name of Sumyung Ho is a reference to Lassic’s mother-in-law’s name.
The full commission will vote on the probation recommendation at the next meeting on Oct. 19.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
