Two dead in shooting outside Noir Lounge nightclub in downtown Columbus

Kris Wernowsky and Bailey Gallion, Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·2 min read
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A Columbus Division of Police crime scene search unit van sits parked outside Noir Lounge in the 10 block of West Cherry Street in Downtown Columbus. Two people were found shot to death outside the bar early Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.
A Columbus Division of Police crime scene search unit van sits parked outside Noir Lounge in the 10 block of West Cherry Street in Downtown Columbus. Two people were found shot to death outside the bar early Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.

Two people died in a shooting early Monday outside a nightclub in downtown Columbus, according to 911 dispatchers.

The shooting happened about 1:15 a.m. at Noir Lounge in the 100 block of West Cherry Street, dispatchers said. Officers found two people dead from gunshot wounds near the front entrance to the club.

A Columbus Division of Police van remained parked outside the nightclub as of 8 a.m. Monday, with yellow police tape marking the area near the front entrance where the two bodies were found.

Little is known about the shooting, and police have not publicly identified either victim or any potential suspects in the deadly shootout.

The victims were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Monday morning's shooting comes less than 24 hours after two people were critically injured in a bar shooting in Franklinton.

Around 2:55 a.m. Sunday, Columbus police received a call from a bar on the 900 block of Sullivant Avenue about a shooting. Two people were found with gunshot wounds and taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center.

Because of the severity of the injuries of the victims, homicide detectives are investigating the shooting.

Since Jan. 1, 2023, the Columbus Division of Police has been called to the nightclub’s address 47 times, including a report of shots fired at 2:30 a.m. Aug. 27. Ten disturbances, including noise complaints and mental disturbances, were reported at the address. A fight, an assault, property damages and an OVI were also reported.

Nineteen of the calls were officers on special duty assignments, meaning off-duty officers worked a security or traffic detail at the address.

In December, one person died and two others were injured in a shooting at a bar in the Brewery District. Columbus police said 23-year-old Abdus Turner died in the shooting, which took place at the Double Take Bar & Grill, located at 912 S. High St.

Anyone with information on any of the shootings is asked to call detectives at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two dead in shooting outside Noir Lounge in downtown Columbus