Safety guard killed in shootout at strip membership in Miami Gardens





Three people were shot dead outside a strip club in Miami Gardens called the Mint Lounge on Tuesday.

Three people were shot dead outside a strip club in Miami Gardens called the Mint Lounge on Tuesday.

Walter Michot

MIAMI HERALD STAFF

A security guard was shot dead and two others injured in a shootout at an adult club in Miami Gardens.

Family members said the shooting claimed the life of 34-year-old David Hilbert. He had worked as a night watchman at the club for over two years, was married with at least one child.

“He just lost his life for no reason,” said the guard’s cousin, Roberta Hilbert. “It happened because of stupid things.”

Just after 4 a.m., police received news of the shooting in the Mint Lounge, Northwest 187th Street and 27th Avenue.

“There was an argument outside the establishment that resulted in multiple shots being fired,” Detective Michael Wright told Miami Gardens police.

Two men shot dead were taken to the Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, according to police.

At the scene of the crime, a tarpaulin-covered corpse lay between two cars in the club’s parking lot. The police searched the area with flashlights. Grenade shells and evidence were strewn on the street in front of the lounge, across from the new police headquarters and the town hall.

Family members say Hilbert was passionate about his job as a security guard.

“He was a fun family man. He was just a person who believed in work, just a hard-working person, ”said Roberta Hilbert.

It is not clear whether David Hilbert was involved in the fight or was just trying to break it up.

Mint Lounge has had problems in the past.

In March 2015, an argument that started at the club resulted in a man being shot dead later that night.

In 2010, one man was killed and two others injured when an argument resulted in gunfire.

Hilbert’s great-aunt Lannie Hilbert said, “This is very bad. If someone knows something, he should get in touch. That wasn’t right. “

Miami Gardens police said they were looking at the surveillance tape to see if it could help them with this case.

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 6:10 am.

Comments are closed.