Gunfire broke out early Tuesday in Sauget near a strip of nightclubs, leaving one person injured and a suspect in custody, police said. The shooting occurred just after 1 a.m. on Monsanto Avenue near the Diamond Cabaret, when someone in a vehicle outside the club was struck. The victim was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening, and officers detained a suspect at the scene.
What Police Say
According to First Alert 4, a dispute between two groups started inside the nightclub and spilled into the parking lot. Outside, someone fired at a vehicle, striking the passenger multiple times. Police said the wounded passenger was taken to a nearby hospital, while officers secured the scene, took a suspect into custody, and processed evidence.
Where It Happened
The gunfire occurred along Monsanto Avenue, a short but busy stretch of late-night venues in Sauget that includes OZ Nightclub and Diamond Cabaret. OZ’s website lists the club at 300 Monsanto Ave with late-night weekend hours, and Diamond Cabaret is located nearby on the same strip. The Metro East nightlife area has seen previous incidents, including shots fired at the VIP Club in Cahokia Heights on Dec. 26, which also unsettled the local club scene, as per RiverBender.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not released the names of the injured passenger or the suspect taken into custody, and no charges had been announced as of Tuesday. Police also have not specified the type of weapon used or a possible motive, stating that detectives are continuing to investigate.
Regional Context
The Sauget shooting is the latest late-night incident in the Metro East to involve multiple law enforcement agencies. A similar December 26 shooting at the VIP Club in Cahokia Heights drew responses from local departments and Illinois State Police forensic teams. As of now, authorities have not provided additional updates on the Sauget nightclub case.
