'Video Vigilante' Kathy Kozan led the effort to shut down Chromium Niteclub, where a patron was murdered last August.

Lake Street nightclub murder solved

By: Alex Mariscal

Posted: 2/4/08

The Flame published two articles addressing violence caused by Chromium Niteclub ultimately ending with city officials shutting down the club on Dec. 3 ["Lake Street goes on lockdown," Oct. 29; "Violent nightclub shut down," Nov. 12]. The frequent fights in front of the club - one contributing factor in the club's closure - escalated last August into the shooting death of patron Omari Houston.

Nearly half a year after the shooting incident and over a month after Chromium's closing, Chicago police arrested the suspect believed to have been the gunman involved in Houston's shooting.

Just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 19, violence ensued just outside of the troublesome nightclub. Several witnesses had seen Houston and the shooter involved in an argument inside of the nightclub that was brought outside and soon left Houston dying of wounds from several gunshots to his back. And although police officers had rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots from only a block down the street, the shooter had still managed to flee.

However, according to the ABC7 News Team, 23-year-old Bryant Buckhanan was captured on the West Side of Chicago just a few weeks ago. Buckhanan is a convicted drug offender and suspected of gang affiliation. He is currently being held without bond based on first-degree murder charges.

The Flame spoke to Kathy Kozan about the arrest and the changes since the shut down. Kozan's efforts helped the city shut down the problematic establishment for a violation of a liquor license.

For many years, business owner Kathy Kozan has lived in her West Loop residency. When Chromium first started problems over five years ago, Kozan fought back. She's been dubbed the "Video Vigilante" for recording activity outside the clubs for years in order to expose the violence occurring in her neighborhood.

Kozan said, "The city had a gang specialist working on this case, working to find this guy. I'm speaking about the police of this district, and they have done a good job. There were a lot of people working on the case, and it took a lot of work to do that. I know that they can't bring him [Houston] back, but they are doing what they can to make things better."

Kozan also started up a website (LakeandHalsted.com) to share with everyone the violence that was overpowering the West Loop community every night. Even with the final closing of Chromium, Kozan continues to update her website, offering advice to fellow Chicago residents and other bar and restaurant owners who have written in, looking to improve their neighborhoods as well.

"Every once in a while, I'll go back and watch the tapes to answer a question someone has written in about, and I just think, 'wow, this was going on for so long," said Kozan.

Kozan is modest about her work making sure to talk about the community involvement. "Those liquor violations were there before, but with all the support from the community and notice from the papers, it really helped get the situation noticed, and helped to get them closed. I think people give me too much credit for getting it closed down, but there were a lot of people involved, especially the police in this district who were out there every day working with the community."

With Chromium being closed for just under two months now, Kozan says that she can finally sleep during the night. Without the disturbances caused by patrons allowed by Chromium to congregate on the street, this West Loop neighborhood seems to have calmed down.

Kozan said that the other clubs have made improved efforts to maintain order highlighting Shadow Bar in particular. "It's nice that [Shadow Bar] is taking the time to make sure there are no problems and have good communication."

The community has taken notice of the changes, "I can't even tell you how many people have written in to say that their lives have improved because of the quality of the neighborhood."

Kozan will continue to keep her website up and running. The Video Vigilante's work is never done.