2008 Woodie Awards
Lake Street nightclub murder solved
Alex Mariscal
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: News
Media Credit: Chicago Sun-Times'Video Vigilante' Kathy Kozan led the effort to shut down Chromium Niteclub, where a patron was murdered last August.
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."
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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."
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