No arrests have been made, but a violent incident in Times Square originating at karaoke nightclub early Monday Spotlight LiveSpotlight Live resulted in the death of one man and the injury or hospitalization six others last night. A coat-check dispute, led to the ejection of a number of patrons and resulted in a deadly brawl.
The restaurant's spokesman said that patrons who had been arguing and then got into a shoving match were asked to leave. As they exited, a melee erupted in the street. Spokesman Adam Handelsman told the News, "It was later brought to our attention that some members of this group who were subsequently dealt with by the police were then involved in a tragic incident blocks away." One victim Samir Wilkins of Newark was stabbed and declared dead at Bellevue Hospital; five others are in stable condition at area hospital, while one is in critical condition.
Spotlight Live, located on Broadway between 48th and 49th Sts., is described as a place where patrons can karaoke with the likes of Alicia Keys, Kanye West, and Jennifer Lopez. While several hip-hop stars were said to be present inside the club, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said none were suspected of being involved in the confrontation that occurred blocks from the establishment.
Spotlight Live is 23,000 square feet and four stories--an establishment that can accommodate obviously hundreds, if not thousands, of people, and if you can imagine a place that large, one can see where the environment around the coat check can get heated. Last year, a fight near the coat check at nightclub Bed led to an accidental death.
