Denver moves to shut down Ultra Lounge East after mass shooting

Key Points:

• Denver city officials ordered the immediate shutdown of Ultra Lounge East nightclub following a deadly shooting that killed one person and injured eight others, involving at least two shooters firing 66 shots at the venue.
• The nightclub has experienced three violent incidents in the past five months, including a previous homicide outside the club in March, and was found operating without proper food, hookah, and liquor licenses.
• Licensing officials allege that the current operator, Dionte Wilkins, is not the licensed owner and may be ineligible for a liquor license due to a criminal history, while the original building owner, Dol Bhattarai, is attempting to evict Wilkins for nonpayment of rent.
• The shooting stemmed from a conflict between two groups that began earlier at a community event in Aurora and reignited at the nightclub’s afterparty; police also noted lax security measures at Ultra Lounge East during the incident.
• The nightclub’s liquor and entertainment licenses were suspended immediately, with a hearing scheduled for September 11 to determine whether the suspension will be upheld, marking the third summary suspension issued by Denver this year.