Shots fired, people take cover outside Lakes Region club
By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
4 hours, 51 minutes ago
GILFORD – People ran for cover last night when a man, tossed out of a local nightclub, later returned and fired off 16 rounds from a M-1 Garand rifle in the club's parking lot, police said.
Michael Braman, 49, of 271 Weirs Road, was arrested and charged with felony reckless conduct. He was held in the Belknap County jail on $50,000 cash bail and was arraigned this morning on five counts of reckless conduct.
Police said after Braman was escorted from the club for "touching the female entertainers," he went home, got the rifle, returned to the club and then fired 16 shots towards Cocomo's, 15 Kimball Road. Several witnesses, who were in the parking lot at the time, told police they took cover, fearing for their lives.
Lt. Ed Cowings said no one was injured in the incident. Police do not know if any property was damaged.
They are returning to the club this morning to process the scene and collect evidence.
Cowings said the featured entertainment last night at the club was exotic dancers. Braman was ejected from the club for "inappropriate behavior," according to Cowings. He did not elaborate.
Calls to 911 started coming into the police department at 11:11 p.m. reporting multiple shots being fired at the nightclub. Officers heard six gunshots as they arrived and several more calls to 911were received from club employees reporting a man in the parking lot was shooting at them.
More police arrived, including officers from Gilford, Laconia and State Police. Two men were stopped by police as they were walking towards the Wishing Well shop on Weirs Road.
One of them was Braman and the other was a man who rents a room in his home, who police did not identify. The tenant, police said, was not involved in the shooting incident and was not charged.
Cocomo employees told investigators Braman was in the nightclub earlier in the evening and had an altercation with the security staff. He allegedly threatened the bouncers as they were leading him out the door.
By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
4 hours, 51 minutes ago
GILFORD – People ran for cover last night when a man, tossed out of a local nightclub, later returned and fired off 16 rounds from a M-1 Garand rifle in the club's parking lot, police said.
Michael Braman, 49, of 271 Weirs Road, was arrested and charged with felony reckless conduct. He was held in the Belknap County jail on $50,000 cash bail and was arraigned this morning on five counts of reckless conduct.
Police said after Braman was escorted from the club for "touching the female entertainers," he went home, got the rifle, returned to the club and then fired 16 shots towards Cocomo's, 15 Kimball Road. Several witnesses, who were in the parking lot at the time, told police they took cover, fearing for their lives.
Lt. Ed Cowings said no one was injured in the incident. Police do not know if any property was damaged.
They are returning to the club this morning to process the scene and collect evidence.
Cowings said the featured entertainment last night at the club was exotic dancers. Braman was ejected from the club for "inappropriate behavior," according to Cowings. He did not elaborate.
Calls to 911 started coming into the police department at 11:11 p.m. reporting multiple shots being fired at the nightclub. Officers heard six gunshots as they arrived and several more calls to 911were received from club employees reporting a man in the parking lot was shooting at them.
More police arrived, including officers from Gilford, Laconia and State Police. Two men were stopped by police as they were walking towards the Wishing Well shop on Weirs Road.
One of them was Braman and the other was a man who rents a room in his home, who police did not identify. The tenant, police said, was not involved in the shooting incident and was not charged.
Cocomo employees told investigators Braman was in the nightclub earlier in the evening and had an altercation with the security staff. He allegedly threatened the bouncers as they were leading him out the door.
