The license suspension of K’s Lounge, 513 A South McDaniel St., Enfield, was effective Sat., Jan. 4.

Shortly after K’s Lounge closed at 2 a.m., Jan. 1, someone fired four to six shots at a car that was leaving.

Several of the slugs penetrated a nearby house. One shattered a man’s thumb, one nearly hit his head, one hit his bed’s footboard and one hit a mattress and a headboard in an unoccupied room.

The gunman is still at large.

ALE Special Agent Tim Parker conducted interviews and took affidavits from several neighbors. He submitted the case to the ABC Commission and the ABC ordered a summary suspension. The ABC Commission will hold the club’s permits until the case is heard by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Karver Whitaker, 41, has been the owner of K’s Lounge for the past three years.

Enfield Police Chief Willie L. Tillery said he has had several complaints about the nightclub and shots have been fired before as a result of activity at the club. He asked the Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement agency to investigate the recent shooting.

In September ABC Commission Chairman Jim Gardner sent a letter to more than 1,000 private clubs warning that future incidents of violence would result in substantial fines and penalties.

"The ABC Commission will not tolerate violence at businesses that have alcohol permits,” Gardner said. “Local law enforcement and ALE are strong partners with the ABC Commission in taking quick action when life-threatening violence happens at private clubs anywhere in the state."

“The fighting, gunshots and other nuisance activities have been detrimental to that community,” ALE Director B.W. Collier said. “We’re glad to partner with local law enforcement and the ABC Commission in eliminating unwelcome behavior such as this.”

ALE agents have the authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control laws and the Controlled Substances Act.