BREAKING: Police release details in shooting in town of Beloit bar parking lot
TOWN OF BELOIT—Police have arrested a Rockford man in a shooting in the parking lot of a town of Beloit bar that left three people injured Sunday.
According to the town of Beloit Police Department, Antwann Griffin, 25, of Rockford Ill., is being held in Winnebago County Jail pending extradition proceedings for apparently firing shots during the shooting, which happened around 2 a.m. Sunday at the Silver Slipper Saloon and Gentleman’s Club.
The bar is at 1901 Wisconsin Ave., Beloit, in the former location of the Bear Chest.
Police investigators have learned that groups of patrons had been exchanging threats, angry looks and hostile gestures inside the bar.
When the crowd exited the bar at closing time, tensions between the arguing patrons boiled over.
Police believe multiple men exchanged gunfire in the parking lot during the shooting, injuring three people with gunshot wounds, police said.
When police arrived at the bar shortly after 2 a.m., officers saw 20 to 30 people fleeing on foot and in vehicles.
A police investigation identified a silver Chevrolet Impala involved in the shooting, and South Beloit Police later stopped a vehicle matching that description.
Police said Griffin was in the car, along with John Griffin, 22, and Leanthony Lilly, 26, both of Rockford, Ill.
John Griffin apparently had his head grazed by a bullet during the shooting. Medics treated him on the spot.
Police took Antwann Griffin into custody. They arrested John Griffin and Lilly for carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct. They were released with court dates.
Two people with gunshot wounds to their legs showed up at the Beloit Memorial Hospital emergency room shortly after the shooting. John Griffin suffered a superficial grazing bullet wound to the head and was treated on scene.
Neither had life threatening injuries, but one had a wound that required surgery, police said.
Their names are being withheld pending an investigation and for their own safety, police said.
Police are urging anyone with information on the shooting to call the town of Beloit Police Department at 608-757-2244.
