COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A Boone County nightclub is shutting down after a weekend shooting left a 21-year-old Columbia man dead days before the club's owner was due in court on public nuisance charges.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reported Tuesday that Tevin K. Nelson was removed from life support Monday night, one day after he was found shot in the head outside Pepper's Nightclub north of Columbia.
Club owner Karon Rowe was scheduled to appear in court Friday as prosecutors sought an injunction to close her business for one year under public nuisance laws.
Instead, Rowe and her attorney agreed Tuesday to close the business, said Boone County detective Tom O'Sullivan. The hearing has since been canceled.
Court records allege Rowe allowed alcohol sales after the club's 1:30 a.m. closing. Prosecutors also say officers found evidence of prostitution at the club, including a logbook and used condoms.
Attorney Kevin O'Brien, who represents Rowe, could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday. He and Rowe have previously denied the charges.
Sheriff's deputies routinely respond to the nightclub on calls ranging from shots fired to public intoxication and drug sales, O'Sullivan told the Columbia Missourian.
"Unfortunately, this is just the 10th verse of the same song that's been going on for a number of years," O'Sullivan said.
Rowe, 61, could have faced up to a dozen witnesses at Friday's hearing before Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane. The injunction request was filed in July, and Pepper's could still face further legal action.
An undercover Boone County sheriff's deputy previously reported seeing alcohol violations and open drug sales at the club. Deputies also recovered receipts indicating the possible misuse of food stamps. Rowe faces charges of suspicion of promoting prostitution, welfare fraud and weapons offenses.
In 2007, Rowe pleaded guilty to third-degree attempting to promote prostitution after a search warrant of a nearby business, Lynn's Massage. She was sentenced to probation in that case.