.
  1. Home
  2. State
  3. The community is safer now' that Vibe Nightclub is shut down for good

The community is safer now' that Vibe Nightclub is shut down for good

@ # State
vibe

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knox County District's Attorney's filed a permanent injunction Thursday to close down Vibe Nightclub for good.

The Vibe, located at 2630 N Broadway, was temporarily shuttered previous to the new court filing after a nuisance order was issued for the club to be closed.

The filing states The Vibe and its owner Kevin Cherry were immediately barred from operating a business at the location.

"The community is safer now because of this permanent injunction,"
said Assistant District Attorney General, Sean McDermott.

According to a petition filed by District Attorney General Charme Allen, The Vibe has been the scene of repeated shootings and other violent altercations. Knoxville police officers have repeatedly been called to break up large disturbances.

In a news release from General Allen, The Vibe has also been the scene of gang members wearing gang colors and flashing gang signs, and is a haven for criminal activity.

Court records show The Vibe has been the scene of 52 calls for service from law enforcement and emergency personnel since October 1, 2015.

"We stepped in and closed this club to prevent further violence from occurring at this property,"
said General Allen.

Neighbors with the Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association say their fight to keep The Vibe closed isn't over yet.

"We want to prevent this from ever happening again,"
Michael Duerr, the president of the association, said.
"This is way too much violence. You can look out the backdoor of this club and there are houses at eye level."

The club sits closed, but it's only temporary. City Councilwoman Lauren Rider said the club's fate will go before a judge April 11.

On Sunday morning, the Knoxville Police Department responded to a call of shots being fired near The Vibe. A stray bullet struck and killed 25-year-old Jesse Roberts, who was waiting in the drive-thru of a Krystal restaurant across the street.

KPD dispatched officers to the location on N. Broadway at around 4:10 a.m.

Witnesses in the car with Roberts told police that they had stopped at Krystal on N. Broadway. While they were sitting at the drive-thru window, a bullet fired from the direction of the club came through the passenger side door and hit Roberts. She was transported to UT Medical Center where she later died.

According to the release from KPD, investigators recovered over 50 spent shell casings in parking lot of The Vibe.

Police said two other people arrived at UT Medical Center, claiming they were shot at the club. Investigators have not confirmed that their injuries were related to the incident. Witnesses reported seeing cars driving away from the club and numerous people shooting in the parking lot and area around the club.

This incident is under investigation by the KPD Violent Crimes Unit.

KPD asks the public to call the crime and drug hotline at (865) 215-7212 with any information.