Officials discussed the club's future at meeting Monday, but the owner has decided to close the club by Friday

Cameo, location of mass shooting, to close for good by end of week

Sunday's mass shooting at Cameo nightclub has Cincinnati leaders demanding answers about security at the club.


"We will evaluate the club and the safety and the security as we always do," Cincinnati councilwoman Yvette Simpson said during Monday's Law and Public Safety Committee meeting.

Simpson's comments came approximately 36 hours after police said local men started firing guns inside Cameo nightclub, killing one man and injuring 16 people.

"It hurts our sense of security," Councilwoman Amy Murray said. "Cincinnati is a safe place, and it hurts our sense of security."

Murray asked Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac about safety measures at bars and nightclubs.

"Who's required to have a metal detector for people to go into a bar?" Murray asked. "Is it a requirement? Who's required to have it?"

Isaac said there's no mandate bar owners have to follow, but he said establishments like Cameo often work with police to devise safety protocols. That's why the club on Kellogg Avenue has a metal detector.

"I know that (Cincinnati Police) District Two has worked with this particular bar owner around several things," Isaac said. "And I believe that was one of the safety strategies that they've implemented."

Councilman Charlie Winburn said the city should consider asking all bars and clubs that serve alcohol to create safety plans.

"I think we may want to establish a best practice, if we don't already have them, for bars that we would sign off on safety, that here's what every bar must have," Winburn said.

In addition to questions about security, council members brought up Cameo's liquor license.

"We've made decisions to remove liquor licenses," Simpson said. "We've made decisions to redevelop safety plans and allow places to stay open."

In Cameo's case, that step proved unnecessary. The club's owner voluntarily surrendered the club's liquor license on Monday afternoon.

Hours later, the owner announced the club would close its doors for good on Friday.

Rodgers said he received a notice to vacate the premises from the landlord and owner of the property.

In a letter, Rodgers notified the owner that although he had planned to move out in May due to the landlord's planned sale of the property, he will instead voluntarily surrender the property immediately.

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