The owner of Asylum nightclub on Ansonia’s Main Street said a shooting early Tuesday didn’t happen inside his business.
The initial emergency dispatches for the incident indicated a large fight was in progress.
Sergio Neto, Asylum’s owner, took issue with the initial report. He called the Valley Indy Wednesday.
“There was no large fight, at all. Two guys were fighting outside on the street. One guy pulled out a gun and shot and everybody took off,” Neto said.
However, in a prepared statement issued Wednesday, Ansonia police said they responded to a report of a large fight in progress in a parking lot involving people from the club.
Asylum is at 362 Main St.
“Upon officers arrival it was learned that patrons from the Asylum Café on Main Street were involved in a large fight but that the people were starting to leave the area,” according to the statement from Ansonia police. ​“During the investigation it was learned that someone may have been shot during the fight.”
“Officers checked the area but were unable to locate a victim. However, officers did locate a small amount of blood on the ground and a shell casing in the area in the alleyway between Asylum and the Ansonia Commons parking lot. No one could provide information as to who may have been shot or who did the shooting.”
According to the statement, ​“a short time later Ansonia Police received a call from the New Haven police stating that they had a victim who reported that he had been shot in Ansonia.”
The victim, Marcus Heredia, 24, of Bridgeport, was treated at St. Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven. He received a single gunshot wound to the stomach area from a small caliber handgun.
No information was given or available on the assailant, according to police.
Neto said everyone entering the club gets searched before entering and that security is tight inside the club itself. He has owned the business for four months and is concerned the incident will be blamed on the establishment.
Neto said he did not know what prompted the two men to start fighting. He said a business partner was trying to defuse the situation when it escalated.
The incident happened about 2:45 a.m., Neto said. The initial radio dispatch said 3 a.m. A flier promoting the club’s ​“New Year’s Bash” on Facebook said the club would be open until 3 a.m.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact the Ansonia Police Department Detective Division at 203 – 736-2040.
