Neighbors: Nightclub brings chaos

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) - Neighbors told 24 Hour News 8 they were not surprised by an early morning shooting Sunday in a Muskegon Heights nightclub. Four people were shot; one seriously.

The shooting happened inside the Traxx Night Club, 3236 Hoyt St., after a fight started in the club, according to Muskegon Heights Police Chief Lynne Gill. All of the known victims were taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Broken glass could be seen in the parking lot where police investigators appeared to be collecting evidence, but as of later Sunday morning no suspects had been arrested.

Neighbor Jeremy Muscato said the shooting is not out of the ordinary for the club.

" It's basically chaos from about 9:30 at night until 2:30-3 o'clock in the morning," said Muscato.  

Muscato said when he and his wife moved to their Muskegon Heights neighborhood about a year ago, the club was closed. That changed this past summer, he said, when he said the club began opening its doors every weekend.

"It's pretty chaotic, pretty chaotic -- nothing you want your family to be exposed to really."

Muscato said he saw the police cars and ambulances at Traxx early Sunday morning.  

"Some parties came into the bar, some type of altercation ensued...shots were fired," Chief Gill said. "That's four people shot in a single location. When you have drugs and large crowds, you're going to have violence."  

Gill said it's still not clear what may have sparked the fight in the first place, but he suspects that the problem started before at the bar. Gill said the fight started quickly after one of the parties arrived at Traxx.  

Muscato told 24 Hour News 8 there have been at least two other shootings at or near the club within the past few months, and he called the club's patrons rowdy.  

"There's a lot of cars coming up and down the road [when the club is open]. They're noisy, they have no respect for the neighbors and the kids in the neighborhood," said Muscato. "They throw their garbage out -- drug bags, all kind of stuff -- it's crazy."  

Muscato said he has even found a weapon on his property after a night where the club was open. It was dropped there, Muscato claims, by one of the club's patrons.  

24 Hour News 8 tried to contact Traxx representatives Sunday but received no answer. The club was covered in police tape and all the doors were locked Sunday evening. There were also several signs out in front of the club -- one for a realtor and another for an online auction site. The sign for the auction site said the nightclub's assets would be auctioned, including its liquor license. Neighbors told 24 Hour News 8 both of those signs had been out in front of the club for several weeks.  

The Sunday shooting is still under investigation.  

"Something serious is gonna happen," said Muscato. "Little kids [are] gonna get hurt, somebody is gonna get hurt, I'm gonna be standing in my living room and I'm gonna get shot. That's what's gonna happen and I don't want that to happen."  

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 231.72.CRIME (722-7463). Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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Online:

Traxx Night Club

Traxx auction website