Strip club shooting leaves one man dead, another injured

DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) - A strip club employee is dead and a manager injured after a shooting at The Pretty Woman on Detroit's east side.

Detectives tell Action News the shooting happened just before 2:00 a.m. near closing time.

A customer was trying to make his way into the club when he pulled out a gun because the bouncer would not let him in.

A patron inside at the time tells Action News about 40 customers were there and everyone started running toward the back of the club when the shots were fired. No customers were hurt.

The employee who was killed is 36 and family members identify him as Alphonso Thomas. He worked at the club for about five months according to co-workers. Friends and family called him 'Boo'.

Alphonso's priority in life was to take care of his mom according to family members.

"He was just basically like her right-hand man," said cousin Shannon Paige. "He would bathe his mother, he would go to the doctor's appointments with his mother, he would call his mother at least 20 times a day to make sure she ate, had her medicine..."

A dancer who goes by the stage name "Blue" told Action News she was not working last night’s shift, but says Alphonso always protected his co-workers. 

“He’d make sure all the girls got to their cars safely," Blue said. "He was like a big brother to all of us.”

The suspect got away, but police say they know his street name. Alphonso’s family members want him caught.

The club’s manager was also hit by the gunfire. He is also 36. Police say he’s expected to be ok.