A Lawrence nightclub has had its license yanked after a deadly shooting took a man's life over the weekend. In the early hours of Sunday, the Energy Lounge became a crime scene when a 29-year-old man was fatally shot, as reported by NBC Boston. Responding officers found the victim, later identified as Edward Javier-Perez, at the club located at 459 Broadway around 12:20 a.m., suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at Lawrence General Hospital.
The action to briefly shutter the club and suspend its operating license was taken by Lawrence police "This decision was made in part due to fact that the matter is under investigation by the Lawrence Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office," the police department said in a statement obtained by NBC Boston. The incident's serious nature and the fact that the perpetrator(s) remain loose spurred Acting Chief William Castro to make the call for public safety’s sake, according to the department's announcement.
Lawrence police have informed the owners of the Energy Lounge about the suspension, which will remain in effect until the investigation concludes. The police department, further elucidated by a spokesperson, emphasized the decision was a reflection of "the overriding public safety concern" after such a violent event. Energy Lounge took to social media to express their sympathy for the victim's family and underscored their cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
While no arrests have yet to be made, the investigation progresses with Lawrence Police and Massachusetts State Police on the job. Lawrence Police's spokesperson relayed that “Once the investigation is complete, all information will be turned over to the Lawrence licensing board, which may hold a hearing regarding this matter,” This was echoed by Boston 25 News.
Investigators are appealing to the public for information that may lead to a breakthrough in the case. Anyone with knowledge of the crime is asked to reach out to Lawrence Police.
