21 Die in Chicago Nightclub Stampede

MSNBC

[leadpenny]

14 Dead, 12 Injured. 1500 in a Night Club when it happened. 1000 Capacity No other details.

[happygrl]

Pointless deaths.

[leadpenny]

Fight between two women. Pepper spray used. Panic.

[BlessedBeGod]

At least 14 people were killed and 30 were injured after a fight in a crowded South Side nightclub early this morning turned into a stampede, authorities said.

If you want to log in, you can go to Chicago Tribune Stampede Article .

If you don't want to log in, there's a shorter article at Chicago SunTimes Stampede Article .

[OXENinFLA]

http://wlsam.com/listenlive.asp

[mhking]

From WMAQ/NBC5 Chicago:

At Least 17 Crushed To Death In South Side Club Disturbance
At Least 19 People Hospitalized, In Critical Condition

POSTED: 5:01 a.m. CST February 17, 2003
UPDATED: 6:31 a.m. CST February 17, 2003

CHICAGO -- At least 17 people are confirmed dead, so far, after patrons of a south side night club became crushed while trying to exit through a single door. NBC5 reported the number of fatalities could go up to 21. In all, 65 people were transported to 11 hospitals.

The incident occurred at the E-2 nightclub and Epitome restaurant, at 2347 S. Michigan Ave, around 3:30 a.m. Monday. NBC5's Kim Vatis reported from the scene that some of the bodies were still inside the club shortly after 6 a.m.

Witnesses told Vatis that security guards responded to a minor fight between two women inside the club by spraying Mace or pepper spray, and the spray triggered a mass exodus.

The front and back doors of the club were chained shut, and patrons rushed for the stairs, crushing people to death.

Kristy Mitchell told Vatis she was one of the people trapped in the stairwell. She said she escaped serious injury but at times could not breathe in the crowd.

[templar]

1500 in a Night Club when it happened. 1000 Capacity

Take note of a dangerous situation to avoid. wonder if criminal carges against the club owners/managers are in order? In years gone by I've seen people mace each other in bar fights without an ensuing panic. Times have changed, I guess.

[cricket]

"The front and back doors of the club were chained shut, and patrons rushed for the stairs, crushing people to death."

. . .incredible.

[OXENinFLA]

Eye witness on WLS right now.

[Unknown Freeper]

Bad situation all the way around. I'd hate to be the owner, the bouncer or one of the two women who were fighting (probably over some man.) Prayers for those who are gone.

[jimtorr]

1500 in a Night Club when it happened. 1000 Capacity........The front and back doors of the club were chained shut, and patrons rushed for the stairs......
Wonder if criminal carges against the club owners/managers are in order?

I would say that criminal charges are very much in order, and may have been filed by this time.

Chicago isn't shut down by 30" of snow, like Maryland is.

[leadpenny]

I'm surprised that people don't get a sixth sense about these things. I can remember when my children were little and in a packed day-care Christmas play. The place was over capacity, I'm sure. Panic came over me like an instinct. Couldn't wait for the thing to be over.

[Aaron0617]

Chicago FREEPer here.

This club was called the Clique. Due to all the shootings infront of the club and fights IN the club it was sold and later became the Epitome.

Thousands were spent refurbishing the club. It had a dining room downstairs and upstairs was the dance club.

Still shootings outside and fights inside the club persisted. Note: Within a mile of the club is one of the worst crime ridden housing projects in Chicago.

Then you have what happened last night. A sunday night party, no work today, where a fight happened on the upstairs dance floor. Mace was sprayed, everyone ran downstairs to the door (THE ONLY EXIT) but THE DOOR WAS LOCKED!!!

Everyone was squeezed up against the door. One pregnant woman suffocated to death. Others stepped on, etc. Latest I've heard is 17 dead.

[prairiebreeze]

I also don't like it when restaurants are over-full or have a ka-jillion people crowded in the lobby waiting to get in---and blocking the primary exit.

Somehow the idea of open flames in the kitchen and over-capacity sends off an alarm to me. I've left more than once to find another less crowded place.

Shame about this. I'm also a Chicagoland FReeper.

Prairie

[Capt. Tom]

The old door trick they should have learned. This was the fire that changed the laws to protect people in crowded buildings

During the early days of World War II, a major fire struck the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts. On the night of the fire, November 28, 1942, the club had approximately 1,000 occupants, many of whom were people preparing to go overseas on military duty.

A lighted match used by an employee in changing a light bulb has been considered the possible cause for this tragic fire, which took 492 lives. Almost half of the occupants were killed, and many were seriously injured. Flammable decorations spread the fire rapidly. Men and women were reported to have clawed inhumanly in an effort to get out of the building. The two revolving doors at the main entrance had bodies stacked four and five deep after the fire was brought under control. Authorities estimated that possibly 300 of those killed could have been saved had the doors swung outward. It should be noted that the capacity of the structure had also been exceeded.

[Aaron0617]

A local writer did a feature on the club. A black investor bought it and wanted to changed this 'ghetto' club into an upscale black dance club. He was having problems with Daley and a local alderman.

I think the major issue was a liquor license. If I remember right I don't think the alderman wanted the club to reopen. What ever reasons she had. Turns out she was right.

UH..OH. WE HAVE A JESSE JACKSON SIGHTING. He got there fast.

I'm hearing 20 dead now.

[Aaron0617]

Its official its 20 dead.

[Catspaw]

I doubt if that's going to be the final count.

Those poor people.

[Illbay]

Rumor has it that a large contingent of French tourists was visiting the club when a routine fight broke out.

However, the presence of the French complicated things when they attempted to flee the scene of "violence," and the stampede resulted.