Owner, 3 employees arrested in connection with Charlotte club homicide during statewide bust

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said authorities have arrested four people in connection with a shooting and homicide outside a west Charlotte night club last month.

Officials said Alcohol Law Enforcement agents assisted Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to arrest Club Nikki owner Cory Headen and three employees in connection with the investigation.

(Cory Headen)

Headen is charged with failing to properly supervise the club.

The three employees arrested on suspicion of allowing criminal activity to take place at the club were identified as 50-year-old Tamera Butler, 40-year-old Ricky Helms and 47-year-old Nelson Craig.

The SBI said the arrests were part of a statewide ALE operation targeting "violence and illegal activity anywhere alcohol was sold, whether legally or illegally." In addition to targeting violent crimes, ALE agents also executed eight search warrants, seized 14 firearms, busted two illegal distilleries and collected more than $13,000 in cash. Agents made 123 arrests and issued 237 charges.

Last month, police said they found a man who had been shot on Little Rock Road at Wilkinson Boulevard, which is across from Club Nikki's, where a shooting occurred earlier in the morning.

[ALSO READ: CMPD investigating after man shot, killed in south Charlotte parking lot]

Police said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials later identified that victim as 35-year-old Melson Kawon Quince.

Channel 9 crews saw several officers looking for evidence, with crime scene tape roping off the scene.

Investigators said a fight at the club around 3:45 a.m. spilled into the parking lot, where there was a shootout between two people.

Police said a man who had been shot showed up at the hospital a short time later. He’s expected to be OK.

Police said the two incidents are connected and are asking people who may have been at the club to come forward. A $5,000 reward has been offered in the case.

Officers said it’s unclear if Quince was involved in the fight or if he was a bystander.

There have been no arrests in this case.

This is not the first time Channel 9 has covered a shooting at Club Nikki's.

An ALE officer said he witnessed a shooting at the club years ago and said the club tried to cover it up.

Channel 9 went through records for the club. Between 2009 and 2016, there were seven violations recorded at the club by Alcohol Law Enforcement, resulting in $15,900 in fines.

Some past violations include drugs being allowed in the club and underage workers. Alcohol Law Enforcement told Channel 9 it plans to ask the ABC Commission to immediately suspend the club's license.

If the board agrees, the club's liquor license could be revoked by the weekend.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Cox Media Group