1 in custody after deadly nightclub shooting

Summary

Police have made one arrest and are seeking one other suspect in the city's first murder of the new year - a shooting inside the Chop Suey nightclub early Sunday morning. Three young men were hit by gunfire, and one of them died later.

Story Published: Jan 4, 2009 at 8:39 AM PST

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM PST

1 in custody after deadly nightclub shooting

A patrol car blocks the street outside the Chop Suey nightclub after the shooting.

SEATTLE - Police have made one arrest and are seeking one other suspect in the city's first murder of the new year - a shooting inside the Chop Suey nightclub early Sunday morning.

Officers responded to the scene, in the 1300 block of East Madison Street, at about 12:30 a.m. after receiving 911 calls about a fight and shots fired at the club.

Police found three gunshot victims, all males apparently in their 20s, said a Seattle police spokesman. Medics rushed all three victims to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

One victim died after arriving at the hospital. A second victim suffered life-threatening injuries, and the third victim was treated and released.

Officers took two people into custody after the shooting. One was interviewed and released. The other, identified as Roger A. Labranche, 25, was arrested and booked into jail for investigation of assault, police said.

A second suspect remains at large, police said.

Chop Suey's online calendar shows that patrons had gathered Saturday night to see music acts Young Soprano, Fatal Lucciauno, No Clue, Dividenz and Anonimous.

A dispute erupted during the performance and shots were fired. Two of the victims are believed to be patrons and one victim is possibly an entertainer.

It is unknown if any of the victims were targeted, police said.

Investigators from the Seattle Police Department's homicide, crime scene and gang units also responded to the club.

More information will be published as it becomes available.