The owner of the property where 15 people, including children, were shot said he is working with police investigating the crime and that he’s ready to “step on some toes and knock on some doors to find out exactly what happened.”
Elijah Dukes, 72, owns the land that the restaurant The Spot sits. Dukes, who owns a single commercial property, said he was last on the property two weeks ago, and everything appeared to be in order.
Since the weekend shooting, Dukes said he’s been trying to get in contact with The Spot's owner, John Stuart. Dukes said the restaurant was “absolutely not” supposed to be operating as a club.
Dukes’ remarks come a day after the manager of The Spot, Tiffany Johnson, 31, was arrested and given a notice to appear in court for allegedly selling liquor without a license.
Investigators said they found bottles of liquor behind the bar, though the restaurant only had a license to sell beer and wine. The discovery of the liquor prompted the arrest of Johnson Tuesday.
The shooting at the restaurant last Sunday morning left 15 people injured, the youngest just 11 years old. The shooting was initially reported to be at a night club, but The Spot is licensed as a restaurant.
Dukes said the shooting was the first time police had been called to his property, and he wants to make sure it’s also the last.
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When asked if he had a message for the kids who were at the club, Dukes said no. “I don’t want to say anything to them. I want to talk to their mothers, their parents,” Dukes said.
If you have any information about the mass shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).
