A bouncer and another person were hospitalized after a stabbing broke out a little before 3 a.m. Wednesday at a strip club on Karl Court, just off East Dublin-Granville Road on Columbus's north side. One victim was initially listed in serious condition and the other in stable condition, though police later said both had been upgraded to stable condition.
As reported by WSYX, police identified a suspect in the stabbing, but as of the station's report, no arrest had been announced. Police said one of the two people hurt was a bouncer at the club, though the outlet did not specify what led to the attack.
A Venue With a Long Record of Violence
The club involved is located in the 1600 block of Karl Court and has operated as The Doll House, according to 10TV WBNS. The address sits along the Karl Road and East Dublin-Granville Road corridor, a stretch described by the station as close to residential streets, local businesses and a church.
This is far from the first violent incident at the location. In January 2023, a 37-year-old man was shot to death and three women were wounded in an early morning shooting at the same club, per 10TV's reporting. A year earlier, in September 2022, five people were shot and injured in the parking lot after a large fistfight broke out when a group was turned away at closing time, according to footage from WSYX.
Security Guards Have Been Targeted Before
Wednesday's stabbing is not the first time a security staffer at the club has been hurt on the job. In February 2024, a 48-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he was removed from the club, returned with a handgun, and aimed it at a security guard's head; during a physical struggle, the gunman sustained a muzzle-flash burn, 10TV WBNS reported at the time.
The club has also faced non-violent but costly disruptions. In October 2024, a driver rammed an 18-wheeler semi-truck into the building's exterior and continued driving, according to a report from True Crime United.
City Officials Have Tried to Shut It Down
Columbus has repeatedly tried to rein in the venue through official channels. In December 2022, the Columbus City Council voted to formally object to the renewal of the club's liquor license, citing frequent emergency responses tied to violent activity, per 10TV WBNS. City Attorney Zach Klein filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction, alleging that the club was a public nuisance and citing a pattern of violent crime and safety infractions.
No arrest had been announced in Wednesday's stabbing as of the latest update, and both victims were reported in stable condition. The case adds another chapter to a venue that has drawn sustained scrutiny from Columbus police, city council and the city attorney's office over the past several years.
