Three murders, 16 assaults, two juvenile runaways, one rape.
Those are among the litany of crimes documented by Metro police from the more than 100 calls for service to Kilimanjaro Sports Bar and Banquet hall between 2012 and 2016.
A little after 6 a.m. Friday morning, Metro Nashville police officers and detectives with the department's Specialized Investigations Division raided and padlocked the night spot in North Nashville off of Brick Church Pike, declaring it a public nuisance based on a temporary injunction and padlocking order issued by Criminal Court Judge Steve Dozier.
Following the raid, a department release summed up the stunning list of reported incidents at the location in recent years:
A several month investigation by North Precinct officers and Specialized Investigations Division detectives shows that Kilimanjaro poses a hazard to patrons and the overall safety of that immediate area. From November 1, 2012 through December 1, 2016, MNPD officers have responded to more than 100 calls for service to Kilimanjaro Sports Bar. The reported illegal activity consisted of a range of reports including murder, fights, disorderly persons and shots fired. In addition, a police operative under the age of 21 just last month was able to purchase alcohol and marijuana inside the business.The following type crimes were documented from the more than 100 calls for service between 2012 and 2016:
Murders linked to the business occurred on May 31, 2015, and September 25, 2016. In the 2015 case, 17-year-old Brandon Williams was fatally wounded in the early morning hours while on the crowded dance floor. In the 2016 case, John T. Morrow, 21, and Abdinasir Jimale, 38, were fatally wounded at 5:15 a.m. while inside the nightclub. Detectives made arrests in the succeeding days after the incidents occurred.
- Murder, 3
- Person Shot, 1
- Shots Fire, 4
- Robbery, 2
- Assault Aggravated, 4
- Assault, 16
- Assault on Officer, 4
- Domestic Assault, 2
- Drug Activity, 4
- Gang Activity, 1
- Rape, 1
- Theft, 3
- DUI, 1
- Vandalism, 1
- Suspicious Person, 7
- Person Intoxicated, 7
- Disorderly Person, 5
- Juvenile Runaway, 2
- Hit and Run, 1
Police also say their investigation found that Kilimanjaro was a thriving hub of gang activity:
Club Kilimanjaro has become a location that known gang members frequent and various “groups,” “sets” and identifiable “crews” have been observed and surveillance conducted on them. In brief those identified are Crips, Bloods, and BG/BGD, to name a few. Club Kilimanjaro had been used for a statewide meeting for the criminal street gang Gangster Disciples. To further complicate the problems aforementioned, incidents involving intoxicated juveniles and underage patrons consuming alcohol have been reported. The managers of area businesses complain that the club attracts unruly patrons, drunks and violent criminals. The business owners complain that these individuals hurt their businesses, scaring away customers and potential customers.
And it doesn't end there. The department also lists selling alcohol without proper permits and hosting strippers without an adult entertainment license among the violations at the club.
The public nuisance order prohibits Kilimanjaro operators Danyo Lazoro, Clifford Hardin, and Michael Wright, and the owner of the property, Leonard Stephens, and anyone else associated with them from entering the premises until a hearing is held on Feb. 15 at 9 a.m.
Photo: Metro Nashville Police Department
