Club owner explains proactive measures before fatal shooting happened outside

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A downtown shooting with multiple victims, cameras to catch the suspects, drag racing, and squatters are all discussed by Shreveport city leaders.

“Anytime you have large groups of people, there is a potential of a problem,” said Gary Brooks, City Council District B.

The Public Safety Committee is looking to expand the areas the police mobile camera trailers can cover after police say four people were shot on March 15 on Texas Street outside of Club Haze. SPD arrested Kentavious Taylor for second-degree murder.

“On the night of the shooting on Texas Street in downtown, there was a 911 call from Haze on Texas at 12:20 a.m. about the concerns of people downtown, and I believe a fight outside. So we were definitely trying to be proactive instead of reactive about the situation,” said Chelette Holden, owner of Club Haze.

Holden said her establishment paid for two police officers to be visible outside, while council members want to add more Real Time Crime Center cameras to the downtown area.

“What we did not want is a misrepresentation of what happened with Mrs. Holden’s club. There will be meetings with other business owners about safety in the downtown area that will extend to our other neighboring communities,” said Tabatha Taylor, City Council District A.

As Shreveport firefighters battle more vacant home fires in the Highland neighborhood, the committee wants to add more enforcement measures for police to arrest squatters.

“Squatters had a lot of rights. So essentially what this law does it take away a lot of their rights,” Taylor said.

The committee is also looking to crack down on drag racing.

“I get a lot of complaints about 3132 between I-49 where it comes into Flournoy Lucas Road,” said Grayson Boucher, City Council District D.

The Public Safety Committee’s recommended ordinances will head to the full city council for a vote in two weeks.