County shuts down SW Houston nightclub, jails owner

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Officials have shut down D'Place nightclub and punished its owner for numerous liquor board and safety violations.

The 61st Judicial District Court issued an order against owner Anselem E. Eze on April 29th that closed the nightclub, jailed Eze and fined him $5,000.

After a patron was shot and killed outside of the bar, located on 9817 Bissonnet, in February, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan obtained a court order ordering Eze to hire uniformed security guards to discourage crime.

During a subsequent March visit, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission observed that the establishment was open well beyond permitted operating hours, and a bartender informed investigators that she regularly worked until 6am.

There were also no uniformed guards on the premises as required by the February court order.

Ryan's office also says that the establishment was lax in checking patron identification.