A security guard was killed and a man and a woman were injured in a shooting at a club in Hyattsville, Maryland, early Tuesday, police said.
Prince George’s County police said officers responded to a shooting about 12:40 a.m. at Area Code Gentlemen’s Club, formerly known as Mustangs, on Chillum Road. Police said the shooter or shooters opened fire from outside the club.
Officers found the deceased victim, 28-year-old Alex Lynch of Landover, outside the club, police said. A man and a woman were shot inside the club.
The surviving victims are stable, police said.
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Police initially said that four people were hurt in the shooting. However, a woman initially thought to be a victim was injured in an unrelated incident, police said.
Lynch worked long hours at two jobs to support his 4-year-old son, his family said.
“He loved his son. That was his life,” said Aaron Watkins, Lynch’s brother. “How are we going to explain to him your daddy’s gone? It’s very hard.”
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“It’s just really sad and I just want justice for my cousin so we can be able to live,” said Lynch’s cousin Okia Ferguson. “That’s all I want.”
More than two dozen yellow evidence markers dotted the parking lot and road outside the club.
Chillum Road was blocked while police investigated. Drivers were routed through a grocery store parking lot to get around the closure.
Police are still trying to figure out a suspect and a motive in the shooting.
“Turn yourself in,” Watkins pleaded. “You were a coward to kill him, but don’t be a coward to turn yourself in.”
“I just want them to put the guns down, and maybe more lives will be saved,” Ferguson said.
Seven years ago, about a dozen strip clubs -- including Mustangs -- were forced to stop adult entertainment due to rezoning in Prince George's County. Despite this, Area Code is advertised as offering adult entertainment nightly, beginning at 5 p.m.
Prince George's County council member Wanika Fisher, who represents the district where the club is located, expressed concern about the club.
"It's extremely concerning to me and our community," she said. "Strip clubs and adult entertainment was a huge issue in our county around seven years ago. We have zoning laws to rectify that, and I'll be working with our department of inspection and enforcement about the promotion and what's going on in this establishment."
News4 reached out to the club's owner but has not heard back.
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