Two dead, 22 wounded in shooting at Florida nightclub

By Barbara Liston

ORLANDO, Fla. |
Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:29am IST

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) – At least two gunmen armed with possible semi-automatic weapons opened fire outside a Florida nightclub early on Saturday morning, killing two people and wounding 22, according to police.

A witness described panic and chaos inside the Club Elite in the town of Palmetto south of Tampa.

“I was on the floor trying not to die,” said Chip “Blu Chip” Hunt, a promoter who works with the club management. “I was between one who got shot in the back of the head and one that got killed and one gentleman that got Bayflighted (airlifted) out.”

The two killed were named as Gwenette Matthews, 38, of Bradenton, and Trayon Goff, 25, of Palmetto, according to police.

Palmetto police spokesman Scott Tyler said the shooters were outside the club, but some bullets passed through the nightclub’s open front door. Police believe at least one of the shooters was on foot and disappeared in a getaway car.

Hunt, who promoted the club’s Friday night “Grown Sexy” event, said Matthew was socializing inside the club with her sister and was killed by a bullet that came through the front door.

Hunt said the torrent of bullets seemed to be aimed at Goff who was outside, sitting up against the front wall of the building.

“The wall is like Swiss cheese,” said Hunt. “He had so many wounds it was crazy. He got 75 percent of the shots. That’s the one they was after.”

Hunt estimated 150 people were inside the club.

Tyler said most victims were treated and released. Six people were flown to a trauma center in St. Petersburg and one remains in very critical condition, he said.

(Editing by Greg McCune and Sandra Maler)

Article source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/INtopNews/~3/wDt1HLVWVUs/idINIndia-59271220110911

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