GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina's Alcohol Law Enforcement is investigating a gas station on Eugene Street. Nine people now face charges, including the owner and manager of the gas station.
None of them had life-threatening injuries.
The Greensboro Police Department then got the state involved.
ALE agents said they found weapons and drugs at the store. The owner and manager are accused of allowing illegal activity on their property. Seven other people face misdemeanor charges for performing unlicensed security.
The incident ended up putting the city at odds with the party promoter.
GPD says it didn't approve extra officers to help cover what was a very large crowd. It called the event poorly planned and unsafe.
There are a lot of different players here. Greensboro neighbors have questions, party promoters worry about the future of events, and Mayor Nancy Vaughan is pushing for a promoter ordinance and it's all in the name of safety.
The incident had several people raising concerns at a public safety meeting put on by Greensboro Police Department, Greensboro Fire Department, Guilford Metro 911 and Office of Community Safety.
A North Carolina A&T Senior, Alexandra Ozieh, said they students struggle with gatherings. She said that oftentimes events shut down early, forcing students to look elsewhere.
"It can be frustrating, so then we begin to scatter and try to find other locations to host these events," Ozieh said.
In this situation, there was a promoter in charge of the event that eventually migrated to the gas station off Eugene Street were 15 people were hit by a car.
That promoter ordinance Mayor Nancy Vaughan is pushing could require promoters to have licenses and insurance.
"They come up with an event, they get take at the door, maybe part of the bar tab and then they're off to wherever they're from and we are left to deal with the carnage they have left behind. We have to stop that," City of Greensboro's Mayor Vaughan.
Local promoter Kwagi Heath, Owner of Kwagi Heath Group, a party promotion company out of Greensboro, was not involved in this most recent incident. He said while those regulations would not impact him, they could be tough on younger, newer promoters.
He said the job of a promoter is to get the word out about events but to also prioritize safety. He said sometimes - the excitement surrounding the event can cloud judgment when it comes to safety measures.
"We're in the business to make money at the same time, provide a good event, right? But a lot of time, people think numbers. I think a lot of people look at it like that and they try to stay low on the promoter end but they should have a specific number of security men in order to entertain the crowd at the venue," Heath said.
There will be another public safety meeting on April 11 at UNCG's Elliot University Center in the Alexander Room (on lower level)at 507 Stirling Street. Folks can park at Walker Deck. Motorists leaving early should press the intercom button at the exit gate and tell the attendant they were there for the Public Safety forum. Driving directions and campus maps are available online: https://parking.uncg.edu/
This is another chance for Greensboro residents to express safety concerns regarding this hit-and-run situation or any public safety concern in general.