BUCKTOWN — A dance club in Bucktown that was the setting for a fight that spilled onto the streets and resulted in a 21-year-old woman's death by gunfire early Sunday has been forced to close, the city and Chicago Police announced Wednesday.
The Chicago Police Department, working in conjunction with the City of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), has concluded an investigation which will "result in the immediate, temporary closure" of Koncrete, at 1675 N. Elston Ave.
"We all have a vital role to play in keeping our communities safe and the Chicago Police Department will stop at nothing to protect our residents and business patrons from the threats of gun violence," said Shakespeare District Commander Marc Buslik.
According to a news release, the closure — effective for a period of six months or until Koncrete works with police and city officials to develop an approved public safety plan to "ensure it no longer threatens public welfare,"— was made possible by the recently passed Summary Closure ordinance, which gives police the ability to order the temporary closure of establishments that are deemed public safety threats.
An investigation of the incident revealed that Koncrete's owner, Carey Weiman, had knowledge that all of the parties to this altercation had been inside the club prior to its migration to the street around 3:40 a.m. Sunday, the city says.
The victim of Sunday's shooting was identified as Ieshea N. Abdullah, 21, of the 6400 block of South Vernon Avenue, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. The Woodlawn resident died at Illinois Masonic Medical Center hours after the shooting.
The city claims Weiman, "neglected to request emergency medical attention" and placed 911 calls with the intent to deflect attention from the establishment as the origin of the conflict.
While the investigation into Sunday's shooing remains ongoing, Buslik added that "detectives and district officers are working together and making optimistic progress".
Buslik also thanked Hopkins for his "swift action" in supporting the order.
According to the complaint filed by police, the licensee [Weiman] has been "ineffective in managing and remediating the unwholesome environment of the club manifested by the multiple incidents of violence" beginning in November 2013.
Earlier this week, DNAinfo Chicago submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to the Chicago Police Dept. to obtain arrest and incident reports at the club.
In 2012, the club's name was changed to Koncrete, after previously being named Krush and for several years before that, The Prop House.
An online listing describes Koncrete as a "stylish nightspot featuring late-night dance parties in industrial digs with exposed-brick walls."
Weiman has had a late-hour liquor license for the building since 1992, city records show.
On Easter morning in 2012, a fatal shooting occurred near Krush. Weiman participated in deleterious impact public nuisance hearings with the city's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Department.
Weiman previously said the hearings from 2012 were over in about six months, after three meetings. City officials could not immediately confirm that account.
Mika Stambaugh, a spokeswoman for BACP, said on Monday that Weiman will face a licensing hearing on Jan. 11.
"First and foremost safety is our number one priority, therefore we need to ensure license applicant(s) are compliant with licensing requirements so that we can ensure safety for residents and maintain quality of life in our neighborhoods," Stambaugh said.
Weiman did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
