A man was shot inside the Twenty-Two Ultra Lounge in Springdale early Sunday as a local high school's 20-year reunion party filled the club, and less than 24 hours later the same building was torn apart by a fire investigators suspect was deliberately set.
The shooting happened just before 1 a.m. Sunday inside the packed bar, according to WKRC, which reported that officers were already on scene outside the club dealing with a large crowd when gunfire erupted inside. Springdale police spokesperson Keenan Riordan said officers had initially responded for the crowd outside, and that, as he put it, “while they were out there dealing with the crowd, they actually heard gunshots inside the bar.” The gunfire sent people inside scrambling for cover, per the outlet's report.
One man was injured in the shooting. WLWT reported that a victim was transported to a hospital, though the severity of the injuries was not known at the time. As of the station's most recent report, the victim's condition remained unknown and no one had been taken into custody, with the shooting investigation still active.
Fire Tears Through Club Less Than a Day Later
The following night, a fire broke out at the same establishment, causing significant damage inside, the station's report notes. Accounts of the exact timing differ: Dayton 24/7 Now reported the fire happened around 11:30 p.m. at the lounge's Glensprings Drive address, while WLWT reported it happened shortly before midnight at the same location off Springfield Pike. Both outlets agreed that no one was hurt and no one was inside, because the bar was closed at the time.
At least nine fire departments from Hamilton and Butler counties responded, according to WLWT. Fire officials brought in fire marshals and a dog trained to detect accelerants; the station reported that the dog detected accelerants at the scene. Police suspect the fire was intentionally set, and the investigation is ongoing.
A Property With a History of Violence
Riordan told WKRC that police had responded to violent incidents, including shootings, at the property under previous names and ownership, describing “some violent incidents there.” The lounge's owners did not respond to multiple attempts to reach them by social media and phone, the outlet reported.
A nearby resident identified only as Yvette told WKRC the shooting did not surprise her. She said the weekend's violence had made her more cautious about going out and questioned why the bar kept reopening, arguing it should stay closed if people continued getting hurt or losing their lives.
What public records can—and can’t—show
The information cited here does not establish a five-year count of shootings or violent crime in Springdale, or a venue-specific pattern. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services says its county crime dashboard covers offenses reported from 2016 through 2022 by participating law enforcement agencies through a voluntary reporting system. Those county-level figures do not establish the lounge’s history. For possible liquor-law violations, the Ohio Division of Liquor Control directs reports involving matters such as underage sales, over-serving or operating without a proper permit to the Ohio Investigative Unit. The division’s guidance does not indicate that any complaint or action involving this lounge has occurred.
The Twenty-Two Ultra Lounge is described elsewhere as a Black-owned nightlife space offering cocktails, food, live music and special events, according to The Voice of Black Cincinnati. Both the shooting and arson investigations remained ongoing as of publication, with no arrests announced in either case.
