Shooting leaves clubgoer dead

MOSS POINT, Miss. - A night of fun quickly turned to tragedy, as shots rang out at a Mississippi night club. One person was killed and several others were wounded in Moss Point.

Early Sunday morning it was anything but tranquil at the Paradise Lounge.

"There were shots fired in the club, yes. I'm very disappointed and very remorseful of our innocent bystanders and customers that might have gotten hurt," club owner Henry Watson said.

Watson said he was outside monitoring the parking lot, when shots were fired inside his lounge. He heard the shots and called 911 immediately.

Neighbors said the shots could be heard down Shortcut Road. Many folks took cover, but not all were fortunate. Authorities said one man was killed, and several other people were wounded.

"I'm so scared something like this is going to happen down here. I think they need to close the bar down. I've never heard of anyone getting shot and killed," Jan Richardson added.

Residents nearby were pretty upset and alarmed by the shooting. The lounge owner claimed what happened there was an isolated incident.

"It's not indicative of what we do and how we are. Those individuals that were hurt, I'm praying for their best welfare. Their safety and their wellbeing trumps my concern about business. I'm concerned about them," Watson added.

Watson said he has a commitment to nonviolence, and Paradise is an adult club that normally has a good atmosphere.

"We'll do everything in our power to make sure nothing like this ever happens again," he said.

Police shut down the lounge pending further investigation. They said they recovered one handgun.

The Jackson County Coroner identified the dead clubgoer as Joshua Miller. He was from Jackson, Mississippi.