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Elleven45 Lounge shooting: Suspected shooter surrenders ahead of hearing on fate of club

By and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Updated  June 6, 2024 6:31pm EDT
Atlanta
FOX 5 Atlanta

Elleven45 remains close as another arrest is made

Two new updates in a Mother's Day nightclub shooting that left two young women dead and injured four others. This comes as the city and club owners reached an agreement on the club's immediate future.

ATLANTA - An arrest has been made in connection to the deadly shooting on May 12 at a Buckhead nightclub that left two people dead and four people injured.

According to the Atlanta Police Department, 21-year-old Karanji Reese turned himself in to police on June 5. He has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Mariam Creighton and Nakryris Ridley were killed in the shooting at Elleven45 Lounge, located on the corner of Peachtree Road and Bennett Street.

Creighton was a volleyball player and biology major at Albany State University. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the nightclub on Tuesday.

According to the family, the nightclub knew and could have utilized security measures to prevent the shooting.

Karanji Reese

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The City of Atlanta has filed motions to have the lounge closed.

"The office of the city solicitor, Raines Carter, has opened an investigation into their licensing and into some of the incidents that have taken place since they’ve been in operation," said Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond.

Bond said a pending investigation could result in the establishment losing its licenses, and even some potential jail time, if the manager and owners are found to be negligent and criminally liable.

The owners of the lounge said in a post on Instagram that the efforts to shut down the lounge are racially targeted. They also said that they would install new security measures, including a digital age verification process and 33-zone metal detectors.

Police say there was a fight in the club before the shooting. At this time, it is not known what the fight was about or if Reese knew any of the victims.

Atlanta mayor's office responds to Elleven45 hearing

The office of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens released the following statement after Thursday’s hearing: 

"Two people lost their lives and four others were shot at that property just this year, and my heart goes out to the families. No one should lose their life going out to have fun. After this incident, I said there are several tools at our disposal and we will not hesitate to leverage any of them to keep our communities safe and thriving. This particular location has a history of violations over the years, and I thank the Superior Court for today’s action to help move toward our longer-term goal of shutting this venue down for good. 

"At the very beginning of my Administration we set up resources for our nightlife community and most operators are complying and even benefitting from those, but operators who endanger public safety must be held accountable." 

Family of Mariam Creighton resolute to close Elleven45 permanently 

The family of Mariam Creighton says they won't stop until Club Elleven 45 is shut down for good. 

They gathered Thursday inside the Fulton County Courthouse as a hearing was set to determine the future of the club. The city of Atlanta wants it shut down for good.   

"We are just all coming together trying to be there for 'Mari' and fight for her the best we know how," Tracey Eason said. 

Family sues Elleven45 Lounge for wrongful death

the family of an Albany State University student killed in a nightclub shooting are now suing the club owners. Mariam Creighton was shot and killed at the Elleven45 Lounge in Buckhead last month. Her parents say it never should have happened.

Before it went before a judge the solicitors general's office and club owners reached an agreement to remain closed for 60 days. They will go before the court in August. 

"We are here today to seek full accountability for what took place May 12. It should have never happened," Attorney for the Family Parker Miller said.  

"Carrying weapons, acting off of emotions. You have caused our family a lifetime of pain," said Tiffany Eason, sister of the victim.  

"Instead of my daughter being home me and her father had to move things out of her college dorm yesterday. I feel really offended and we need accountability," Tracey Eason said.  

Tracey Eason says the club has yet to apologize and instead blamed racism and the community 

"The community didn't kill my baby nor did racism," Eason said.