Kansas City opens investigation into club where deadly shooting occurred

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Tuesday, Kansas City announced its Multidisciplinary Task Force and Regulated Industries Division are actively investigating Status Nightclub, where two women were killed in a shooting Sunday morning. It was announced in a press release, which stated Blvd Nights is also being investigated.

“If, following a thorough investigation, a business is found to be in violation of City ordinances, its City‑issued operational licenses may be suspended or revoked. Business owners have the right to participate in an appeals process if they disagree with the determination,” read the press release. “Kansas City remains committed to protecting public safety, holding businesses accountable to established regulations, and ensuring that nightlife venues operate in a manner that prioritizes the well-being of residents and visitors alike.”

The shooting happened just after 2 a.m. Sunday. Four people were shot, with two women killed. A third woman was hurt, and a man remains in critical condition. KCPD told KCTV5 that they’ve had 18 calls to the address of the club since 2023.

On Sunday, Councilman Crispin Rea, who represents Kansas City’s 4th District-at-Large, stated he has requested that the city’s disciplinary task force look into the matter and speak with the business owner to understand what happened. When speaking to KCTV 5 on Tuesday, he said he was relieved to hear an investigation had been opened.

“I think there will be a lot of questions that staff have,” said Rea. “They’ll have to do their due diligence, and it will take some time. I am relieved on our end we’re going to take a serious look at this.”

The city’s Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force contains staff from several city departments. It’s goal is to investigate and address issues at businesses or properties throughout the city that negatively impact quality of life and safety.

“It’s a task force of city departments, usually those that are tasked with the duty of regulating businesses, codes, or those types of issues,” said Rea. They work very closely with the police department. The goal is to go to business owners and try to work with them on making their businesses more safe for residents or patrons. This will be an intergovernmental effort between the city and the police department in trying to access what happened there."

At least two signs posted outside Status Nightclub state “No firearms or weapons allowed on this property”. Court documents state the suspect, Dontae M. Brooks, was caught on surveillance video entering the club. The footage captured an unknown man whispering to Brooks shortly before he opened fire on another man dancing nearby.

Brooks fled the scene. DNA evidence from a baseball cap he was wearing that fell off in the club traced back to Brooks and led to his arrest.

“I’m curious as to how this individual was able to get a firearm into a business that had security,” said Rea. “That is something that we’ll be looking to with this multidisciplinary task force and understand what happened there. If there is any additional liability, I think we also need to take a look at that, whether it’s criminal or civil. Unfortunately we have very little power to regulate firearms at the city level, but we can work within the systems we do have.”

Outside the nightclub, a memorial continues to grow. Rea says the city will do what it can to make sure a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again.

“I know that there’s been a lot of anger and sadness around this situation,” said Rea. “Two young women lost their lives because of a senseless incident. It’s tragic.”

The club has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Kansas City police. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477 or online at KCCrimeStoppers.com