Shots fired during police raid at West End social club

CINCINNATI - Officers with the Cincinnati Police Department along with agents from the Ohio Department of Liquor Control raided an after hours social club in the West End early Sunday morning.

"This was not just about selling liquor without a license, this was about a very dangerous and volatile environment that potentially endangered the entire community," Captain Gary Lee said.

The search warrant at Cheers Entrepreneur Social Club located on Colerain Avenue was executed Sunday morning at 2:30 a.m. after an ongoing investigation.

"We had complaints about gunfire both inside the establishment and the surrounding neighborhood. We'd also had complaints about drug activity inside the establishment and adjacent streets around the establishment," Lee said.

While officers were on scene, gunshots were heard just a block away. Officers then stopped a car fleeing in their direction. A bullet hole shattered part of the car's front windshield. Police determined the people inside were fired upon and not related to the raid.
 
"We don't believe it was affiliated with this but that's a good example how a location such as this can create an environment that attracts all kinds of violence and other misbehaviors that generally have a negative effect on the community and that's what we are trying to stop," Lee said.

Cincinnati police charged the owner and operator of the club. LaShonda Collier and Reco Terrell are charged with keeping a place where alcohol is distributed and selling liquor without a license.