March 22, 2013
A fight at the Elks Lodge in Charlottesville ended with gunshots last Friday night, and sent two men to the hospital. The incident took place near the corner of Second Street and Market Street on the downtown mall, just steps from popular restaurants and shops. As the weekend approaches, Charlottesville police say they are taking extra security measures to make sure everyone feels safe visiting the downtown mall.
"You will see an increase in marked patrol cars, as well as officers on bikes," said Lt. Ronnie Roberts. "There will also be some unmarked cars in the area."
Court documents show two men, 56-year-old Frank Brown and 22-year-old Leon Brock, go into an altercation at the Elks Lodge. According to police, the fight spilled out into the street, with one man shooting the other at close range. That's when Charlottesville police Officer Alex Bruner arrived on the scene and fired his weapon, hitting the shooter.
"Normally after an incident like that, there is usually what we call a post-event review," said Roberts.
Officer Bruner remains on paid administrative leave, while the investigation continues. Both Brock and Brown are in fair condition at the UVa Medical Center.
But business owners near the Elks Lodge say they have been dealing with this kind of trouble for months, and hope this incident will cast a spotlight on the problems. The police department is responding by putting extra patrols on the streets.
"When something like this happens, it is important we increase our visible presence there so the people and business owners know we are in the community," Roberts said.
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Extra Police to Patrol Downtown Mall