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Updated: Suspects held in overnight shooting in downtown Albany
Posted: 03.20.2011 at 10:46 AM
Updated: 03.21.2011 at 6:50 PM
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Club Eclipse
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Hispanic man shot outside Club Eclipse

ALBANY, GA. -- Albany police continue to investigate the shooting at the Eclipse Club in downtown Albany.

The four suspects remain in custody at the Dougherty County Jail.

The two victims are described as being in "good" condition.

Original:

Albany police responded to Club Eclipse on West Broad in downtown Albany around three o’clock Sunday morning. When officers arrived, they found 22-year-old Alejandro Bustamante in the parking lot lying in a pool of blood with one gunshot wound and several stab wounds.

"An altercation occurred inside the club initially," said Phyllis Banks of the Albany Police Dept. "The individuals involved in that fight were escorted out of the club – or asked to leave the club – and then an additional altercation took place on the outside of the club."

A second victim, 18-year-old Gino Lopez, was nearby. "He sustained a head injury because he was struck inside the club and outside the club with an unknown object," said Banks.

Albany police later caught up with four suspects driving a green Ford Explorer on Cordele Road. Officers recovered a gun from inside the vehicle.

21-year-old Cristian Vargas, 19-year-old Jose Gonzalez, 19-year-old Adan Gomez, and 17-year-old Evelio Gomez were taken into custody.

"All the suspects are being charged with aggravated assault, criminal street gang activity, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime," said Banks.

The Albany Gang Unit will also be joining the investigation. And the shooting raises familiar questions about the safety of downtown just as city leaders work hard to revitalize the area with new businesses.

"It is an isolated incident," insisted Banks. "We have not had anything occur of this manner in recent years or in recent months. So, we don’t want people to just think that this happened and it’s not safe downtown."

According to police, Bustamante is in stable condition at Phoebe Putney and Lopez may be released soon. Additional charges may be filed against the suspects.

 

 

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