Homewood Club Raided By Police Following 2 Weekend Homicides
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits and Inspections announced late Thursday that it was condemning a Homewood building that housed the New Brotherhood of Motorcycle Club.
They called the structure uninhabitable.
Earlier in the day, owners of the biker bar said they were shutting down permanently, and would no longer be hosting any late-night functions.
The closing came on the same day that Pittsburgh Police raided the club, seizing a number of items, including surveillance equipment in connection with a fatal shooting last weekend.
KDKA's Julie Grant Reports:
The shooting was one of two homicides connected to the business, located at the corner of Kelly and Brushton Streets.
On Saturday, 33-year-old Michael Leonard was shot and killed after he left the club, while sitting in his car in the 1000 block of Blackadore Street.
On Sunday, 20-year-old Sean Lyons was shot and killed inside of the club.
On Thursday night, Sean's mother, Carol Lyons, spoke to dozens of friends and relatives outside the club, where the group held a balloon release in his memory.
Lyons told the gathering, "We all need to come together as a community, because the gun situation is ridiculous, and this is the worst pain in the world [losing a son]. My son did get into mischief, but he was good person."
Brenda Waters' Report:
Pittsburgh Police described the bar as "an unlicensed establishment."
While serving the search warrant Thursday, officers also encountered Albert Green, 61, in a room on the second floor of the building. Green had in his possession a large amount of marijuana.
He was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Thursday morning, before the raid, the club faxed an announcement to KDKA that reads in part:
"The New Brotherhood Motorcycle Club organization would like to send the deepest regrets and sympathies out to the young man family that passed away in our clubhouse and the young man who lost his life prior to leaving our clubhouse last weekend...Effective immediately New Brotherhood MC will be shutting down our clubhouse permanently and in the future we will no longer be holding any late night after hours functions."
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