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HomeNewsArchivesOfficials Investigate Possible Attempted Arson at Christiansted Nightclub

Officials Investigate Possible Attempted Arson at Christiansted Nightclub

September 22, 2006 – Fire officials are investigating a report of attempted arson at a nightclub where a 26-year-old man was gunned down last week.
The investigation, however, comes as the result of circulated reports about the attempted arson.
"We did not receive a call about a fire," Fire Services spokesman Davidson Charlemagne said when contacted. He said Fire Services decided to investigate after the owner of the De Playground nightclub made reports.
"We are doing the investigation now and should know more later," Charlemagne said. He said he would have preliminary details later Wednesday but did not return calls to The Source.
Meanwhile, police declined to speculate on a possible link between reports of the attempted arson and the shooting death of Earl Russell Dennis.
Dennis, who was a resident of Frederiksted, sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the early morning of Sept. 15, near De Playground. He was rushed to emergency surgery but died five days later. The police department has upgraded its criminal investigation to a homicide.
The shooting, which occurred about 3 a.m., damaged a vehicle owned by Water and Power Authority, which was caught in the crossfire.
After shots rang out, police officers — some of whom had been nearby on patrol — were directed by concerned citizens to the nightclub, where they discovered a black male lying in the street. Eyewitnesses told police that the shots may have come from the second floor of the nightclub.
Richards said Wednesday that investigators are actively following leads and urged anyone with information on Dennis' killing to contact Police.
Information will be kept confidential, she said.

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