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Man, 26, killed in shooting after leaving Raleigh club

A 26-year-old man was shot multiple times after leaving Club Bodi in Raleigh early Sunday, police said.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A 26-year-old man was killed early Sunday morning after leaving Club Bodi in Raleigh, police said.

Vernon Oneal Jones Jr. of Lillington was shot in the parking lot at the corner of West Hargett and South West streets, a block away from the club, shortly before 3:15 a.m. Jones was pronounced dead at WakeMed.

Brenna McDaniel, who lives near the club, was home watching a movie with her boyfriend when she heard the shots.

"I paused the movie and right when I did we heard five rounds go off," she said. "We kind of looked at each other and he said he pretty much thought whoever was shooting wanted the that person dead because so many rounds went off. It wasn't just a quick one."

Police believe Jones may have been among those fleeing the nightclub after a disturbance, but it's unclear if the shooting was related to the disturbance inside the club at 310 S. West St.

The shooting is the second one related to the club in less than a year. Two men were shot at the club in August.

Kelly McChesney, owner of Flanders Art Gallery, located next to Bodi, knows there are some challenges when it comes to operating a downtown business.

"We want people to come out and have a good time but there is really no need for gun violence," she said.

Bodi, in a message on its Twitter account Sunday evening, said the shooting was unrelated to the club.

"A shooting took place two city blocks north of the club in a public parking lot and to our knowledge were not patrons nor members of the club and is not related to our business in any way," the statement said.

While clubs will always be a part of downtown, violence should not be, McDaniel said.

"It's just a part of living downtown but I didn't expect people to die," she said.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-HELP or visit www.raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

 

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