GREENSBORO, N.C. — Already this year, 10 people have been murdered in Greensboro, nearly half of them were in or around Greensboro nightclubs or lounges.
"I will tell you that our current police Chief John Thompson is very concerned," City of Greensboro's Mayor, Nancy Vaughan said.
Greensboro's City Council is considering creating an ordinance that focuses on businesses with ABC permits, specifically nightclubs, lounges, and bars.
Mayor Vaughan said the city is looking to get more control over the operation of these businesses.
"The City of Greensboro, we don't have the ability to close a business, so even when you have the horrific details of what happened at the Culture Lounge, we could have not gone in and closed them," Mayor Vaughan said.
Neighbors like Avery Catherwood, who has lived near Culture Lounge for two years is worried about late night safety.
"Many of the murders that have happened have been at bars and night clubs and stuff so I mean, it does kind of make you wonder, what's going on safety?" Catherwood said.
She and another Greensboro resident, Michael Ward, told WFMY New 2's Nixon Norman the deadly shooting at culture lounge wasn't a surprise.
"This is Greensboro, I mean, stuff like that happens but it was the proximity to where I am, that was a little shocking," Catherwood said.
"It's not that surprising, it is very tragic," Ward said.
Ward has been a regular at various bars off Spring Garden for nearly 20 years, he said nothing will change until the building permit rules change.
"Unless I can know that there's going to be something that's not going to promote the same things. It's not a sense of relief, it's just a sense of… 'okay, whose next...'" Ward said.
City leaders also hope this possible ordinance would give more control over the future of ABC permitting for certain buildings.
Culture Lounge's lease was officially terminated yesterday. It's not clear what'll happen next with the property. Police have yet to arrest any suspects.