SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic Sarno announced yesterday he is “peeved” over the ongoing saga involving the Saga nightclub at 80 Worthington St., the scene of a fatal shooting in May.
Sarno on Thursday afternoon ordered Police Superintendent Cheryl C. Clapprood and Alesia H. Days, director of licensing, to investigate whether people were partying in Saga after gaining access through the adjacent club, The Zone, at 90 Worthington St.
“This site should not be open,” he said.
Daniel D. Kelly, a lawyer representing the club owners, said there was no party, offering to share video and provide tours showing the interior of the club is unchanged since its closing.
“These offers also are open to the City,” Kelly said in a statement. “However we know they won’t accept them. It’s easier for the to City to have a press conference, and cite anonymous sources rather than actually do any work. It is regrettable, although not surprising, the City would do this. Any person, private or elected who would publicly attach their name to these false accusations will see us in court.”
If the investigation confirms the partying, Sarno said the licensing department and the police should move immediately “to sanction and shut them down again ASAP. Shame on them!”
Saga has been closed since David Carrasquillo was found shot to death in a restroom just before 11 p.m. May 29. The suspected shooter, 35-year-old Brandon Murray of Springfield, was apprehended in New York City on June 23.
The city License Commission is already investigating whether Saga violated its license by failing to properly screen patrons for weapons at the front door. A hearing is planned for July 13.