2 Hurt In Early Morning Shooting Near Illegal Club In Chelsea
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Two men remained hospitalized Friday night, several hours after they were shot in Chelsea as crowds of people walked to work.
As CBS 2's John Slattery reported, the shooting happened at 6:30 a.m. Friday near an after-hours club on West 24th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
"It was just out of nowhere," one witness said.
The victims were apparently leaving the illegal club, which many people in the area did not even know existed.
Police said the two men had gotten into a dispute with a group of other men inside the club, and they were all ejected by security.
"Two individuals shot; a number of suspects involved in that," said NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
Police said a group of six waited outside for the other two to emerge, and when they did, one victim -- who is 34 years old -- was hit with a pipe. Afterward, he and a 24-year-old were both shot in the legs, police said.
The victims remained patients at Bellevue Hospital Friday evening.
The illegal club is located on the fourth floor of the 24th Street building, where CBS 2 found couches, tables and remnants of partying inside.
The manager of the club was not there Friday afternoon.
Patrons who were possible witnesses were loaded into vans to be questioned by police. Detectives recovered five shell casings and other evidence at the scene.
There were also surveillance cameras near the entrance and across the street.
Meanwhile, people who work on the block were unaware such a club existed.
"I have an office on this street, but I don't know anything about the club," said Christian Hoagland.
After-hours clubs are unlicensed and provide illegal drinks to customers after legal bars have closed. The one on 24th Street was closed down by police.
Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com: