Fordham's late-night spot M Lounge has been cut off from alcohol service after state regulators say staff hauled a mortally wounded man out of the basement and cleaned the area before police ever arrived. The emergency action follows the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Yeimy Reyes earlier this month and puts a state-level spotlight on a venue that was already facing neighborhood calls for closure.
According to News 12 Bronx, the New York State Liquor Authority has suspended M Lounge's liquor license and charged the business with 21 alleged violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. The allegations include operating a disorderly premises and failing to supervise the venue. During the suspension, the lounge cannot serve alcohol or allow alcohol to be consumed on site.
Surveillance Footage Puts M Lounge Under The Microscope
The shooting took place shortly after 4:25 a.m. in the basement of M Lounge at 2362 Jerome Ave., where Reyes was shot in the head. ABC7 New York reported that Reyes was brought outside and pronounced dead, while investigators initially searched for two men who fled the scene on foot.
Surveillance video reviewed by the liquor authority allegedly showed staff carrying Reyes from the basement and cleaning the crime scene before police arrived, News 12 Bronx reported. The agency also said multiple people inside M Lounge were armed when the shooting occurred. State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan said the death and documented security failures required immediate action, while West Bronx officials renewed their push for permanent license revocation and a court-authorized closure.
Police are still looking for 24-year-old Luis Aguero in connection with the shooting. Norwood News reported that detectives identified Aguero as someone sought for questioning and urged anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers. No arrest had been announced in that update.
Officials Say Suspension May Be Only The Beginning
Council Member Pierina Sanchez said she had already flagged M Lounge to the 46th Precinct and City Hall during in-person walkthroughs over the previous two months. In a statement posted by the New York City Council, Sanchez described the violence as part of broader safety concerns facing the West Bronx.
The emergency suspension cuts off the lounge's ability to sell alcohol immediately, but it is not a permanent closure. Any lasting license revocation or court-authorized shutdown would have to go through additional administrative and legal steps, leaving the future of M Lounge unresolved while the homicide investigation continues.
