Santa Rosa Nightclub Shooting Called 'Hate Crime'
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- The downtown Santa Rosa nightclub where an employee was shot early Wednesday morning is calling the incident "a hideous hate crime."
On its Facebook page, the Epic Social Lounge said the shooting outside the club at 404 Mendocino Ave. happened during a Pride Night event.
"We stand strong and continue to support the Gay Community and have a zero tolerance on violence," the lounge said on its Facebook page.
Santa Rosa police said an unruly patron was annoying other customers, using profanity and making derogatory comments.
A 23-year-old male employee of the bar asked the man to leave and escorted him from the bar.
On the sidewalk in front of the nightclub, the man pulled out a gun, shot the employee in the stomach and fled, Sgt. David Linscomb said.
The victim, a Santa Rosa resident, was taken to a hospital for surgery and is expected to survive, Linscomb said.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 20s with long hair.
Linscomb said it is too early for police to classify the shooting as a hate crime.
Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Rosa police at (707) 543-3590.
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