HOUSTON \u2013 Two recent shootings tied to Houston nightlife, including a deadly one in Midtown, are raising broader concerns about public safety at bars and after-hours venues across the city.<\/p>\n
Police said one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting outside the Midtown nightclub Diosa just after 2 a.m. as crowds were leaving late at night. The investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n
The incident comes days after an April 8 shooting inside Confessions Restaurant in Upper Kirby, where two people were shot.<\/p>\n
The shootings come as Mayor John Whitmire has pushed a public safety initiative targeting bars and after-hours clubs, aimed at increasing oversight and enforcement.<\/p>\n
In response to the Midtown shooting, some people commenting online called for more accountability from nightclub operators, while others said efforts to control crowds can lead to accusations of discrimination.<\/p>\n
Video from another popular club along Westheimer shows people running across the street as crowds spill out late at night.<\/p>\n
City documents from that same location show the mayor\u2019s public safety bar and nightclub initiative task force conducted an inspection. The report states the business was \u201cnot in compliance\u201d and \u201ctemporarily closed\u201d before later returning to compliance and continuing operations.<\/p>\n
Questions remain about how the initiative is being enforced and whether it is having an impact across the city.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Abbie Kamin said the Midtown shooting did not occur in her district but spoke out about it. In a statement, Kamin said, \u201cOnce again we see a headline of senseless gun violence outside a nightclub. But this is more than just a headline for our communities. As we continue to push for commonsense measures to reduce gun violence, it will take all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
City officials and council members have not yet provided detailed responses to questions about enforcement of the task force initiative.<\/p>\n