ORLANDO, Fla. – A 17-year-old was shot and killed late Tuesday night outside a nightclub in the heart of Orlando's tourist district, police said.
Orlando police said officers were called to the Lux Ultra Lounge on International Drive after shots were fired.
Investigators said they found a teen, later identified as Terron McCarty, shot in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. McCarty was shot in the back of the head and the leg, police said.
Witnesses told police the shooting started from a fight inside the club, and the shooting happened in the parking lot.
"We did have extra duty officers working that night. There were three of them, they were focused on the rear parking lot where many of our issues at that club happened. So, the investigation is still continuing. We'll be looking at Crimeline tips as well as video surveillance," Orlando Police Chief John Mina said.
Mina said police have been called to the club in the past.
"That club has had its issues in the past. It's not the first time there's been violence there. We'll be sending officers out there to take a look at what the club owners can do to enhance their security," Mina said.
Jalen Pena,19, who works near the plaza, said the crime scene was chaos Wednesday morning.
"I thought it was just a fight, but then later, I found out that somebody was shot," Pena said.
Orlando police said someone called 911 just before midnight to report the shooting at Lux Ultra Lounge.
When police arrived, they found McCarty dead.
The club was hosting an event Tuesday called "Spring Break Teen Bash" for 14- to 18-year-olds, according to the club's website.
Police said they are looking through surveillance video to try and determine what happened. There was no information about the shooter available.
News 6 spoke with business owners in the shopping strip.
Florence Nsilva said she's had to lock the doors during business hours in the past because of rowdy crowds at times.
"Sometimes they have fights over there. Sometimes they drink too much and come here and sit there and just stay there," Nsilva said.
Investigators looked through George Aruabara's surveillance video. His business neighbors the club.
"Now we need to be careful and watch out and maybe working closer to them and asking if there's any parties or private functions there that we can prepare for it too and be aware," Aruabara said.
News 6 requested the documents from the city regarding the club's license to find out if the business was up to code and incident reports from the police department. Those documents have not yet been provided.
An employee with Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco was at the club Wednesday afternoon and said the agency is working to find out if the club's license is up-to-date.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Orlando police.
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