What started as a Friday night birthday celebration at a north side nightclub ended with two teenagers injured and one in the hospital, according to two Milwaukee mothers who say security guards at Prime Social Restaurant and Bar beat and choked their kids.
The families say the teens were inside Prime Social near 76th Street and Good Hope Road when an altercation broke out around closing time. Now, the incident is putting a harsh spotlight on how local clubs screen their crowds and what happens when underage guests slip past the door.
Kenyetta Dowthard and Tamika Eason told reporters their children had gone to a birthday party at Prime Social on Friday, March 13, and that the group paid to get past security without being asked for identification. Dowthard says her 17-year-old son was choked until he lost consciousness and later needed hospital treatment. Eason says her 16-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries to her mouth and braces. Both mothers argue the establishment should be held responsible for what happened, as reported by TMJ4.
Police investigating as child abuse
Milwaukee police say they are treating the case as child abuse and that no arrests had been made as of Monday. Investigators say the altercation happened around bar closing time and involved two underage patrons, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, who were part of a larger group.
Officials have not said whether security staff have been interviewed or if any video from inside the club or nearby is being reviewed, according to TMJ4.
Where it happened and past incidents
Prime Social Restaurant & Bar is listed in city records at 7225 N. 76th St., just off Good Hope Road, according to Milwaukee city records.
The 76th and Good Hope corridor has been on law enforcement radar before. In 2023, a shooting near the venue wounded five people, part of a string of high-profile incidents that have kept the intersection in the crosshairs of police and city safety efforts, as detailed by FOX6.
Parents demand accountability
Dowthard and Eason say the nightclub lost control of the situation long before fists started flying, arguing that security should never have allowed underage teens inside in the first place. They want the business held to account for their children’s injuries and for the way the situation was handled once things turned violent.
Their anger comes as Milwaukee wrestles with broader questions about private security. Past deadly incidents involving security personnel prompted the Common Council to tighten guard licensing and oversight rules, a shift and aftermath detailed by Urban Milwaukee.
Legal implications
Because police have classified the case as child abuse, prosecutors could look to Wisconsin’s "Crimes Against Children" laws if they decide to file charges. Those rules spell out offenses that include physical abuse and neglect and set penalties that vary depending on the severity of the harm.
Any criminal case would be guided by Chapter 948 of the state’s criminal code, which covers crimes against children and the penalties attached to them, according to the Wisconsin Statutes.
For now, Milwaukee police say the investigation is ongoing, and the families are waiting for answers on who, if anyone, will be held responsible. This story will be updated as officials release more information and additional public records become available.
