ATLANTA — The Buckhead nightclub, where a shooting left two dead and four others hurt on Mother's Day, is speaking out after numerous calls from residents and the City of Atlanta to shut down.
The Elleven45 Lounge released a statement late Thursday night addressing the shooting, enhanced security measures, and alleged racial biases regarding the club's operation.
"It is very alarming to witness the continuous racial targeting of Black-owned establishments. The current efforts to shut down the establishment stem from its urban atmosphere and diverse clientele, which deviate from the Buckhead community's norms," the statement reads, in part.
This comes after the City filed a complaint against Elleven45, asking for a temporary restraining order against the club, its owners and the club's property owner. The city asked the courts to declare Elleven45 a public nuisance and prevent alcohol sales on the property "in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public." The family of one of the victims killed in the shooting, Mari Creighton, also recently announced they had plans to sue the nightclub for negligence.
The lounge referenced 11Alive's prior reporting on crime statistics at and around the establishment in its statemtent, saying, "Recent statistics from an 11Alive news report confirm that Elleven45 has maintained a commendable safety record."
Earlier this month, 11Alive scoured all 1,547 calls for service to the lounge dating back to June 2020. We also found that more than 1,100 off-duty Atlanta Police officers had worked security at the club.
Only three of the calls were for violent crimes - one was the most recent shooting, a shooting in November 2023, and a stabbing in 2021. The rest were various calls, ranging from noise complaints to thefts.
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