Little Rock Nightclub Shooting: Liquor License Suspension To Remain

LITTLE ROCK, AR — State alcohol regulators say they will not lift the liquor license suspension of a Little Rock nightclub as investigators look into potential violations following a shooting that left 28 people hurt, officials said.

Power Ultra Lounge's liquor license was suspended soon after the July 1 shooting during a concert by rapper Ricky Hampton, aka Finese2Tymes.

Nightclub owner Herman Lewis did not testify during the hearing Monday. His attorney previously told The Associated Press Lewis wouldn't fight the city's closure of his club and said he's cooperating with law enforcement. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

City officials said last week that they would move to close the club under a criminal abatement program. A representative for the landlord's office later posted an eviction notice on a door to the club.

"Mr. Lewis is just as upset about this as everyone else," Davis said.

Hampton was arrested about 24 hours later in Alabama on outstanding charges of aggravated assault with a gun out of Forrest City in eastern Arkansas. That case is not related to the Little Rock club shooting.

Little Rock police, who believe multiple shooters were involved, are still investigating the incident.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson last week announced a multi-agency task force to help combat violence in Little Rock. Police responded to a dozen drive-by shootings in the nine days preceding the nightclub shooting.

Photo credit: Kelly P. Kissel, Associated Press;