Residents Report Gunshots at Loca Luna

Resident Michael Brady thought he heard fireworks last Saturday outside his home near Amsterdam Walk.

The six loud shots turned out to be gunfire outside by , a busy nightclub on Amsterdam Walk, 550 Amsterdam Ave.

Residents who live near Loca Luna have complained for months about loud noise and safety concerns surrounding late-night parties, especially on the weekends.

Brady and others say cars block driveways and fire hydrants, and police officers and private security do little to stop the problem.

“A shooting today is going to result in a death tomorrow,” Brady told Patch. “Loca Luna needs to be shut down.”

Residents say fights at the club are becoming more common and a brawl that included about 20 people broke out Saturday night.

“We cannot afford to have a club this size in a residential area cul-de-sac,” Brady said. “We do not want this kind of activity in our residential neighborhoods.”

When contacted by Patch on Thursday, Loca Luna ownership declined to comment.

, Loca Luna Community Relations Liaison Leigh Davis-Turner said the owners are “committed” to finding solutions to the long list of complaints from residents. That meeting was organized by Loca Luna owner Eric Kline, but a club representative barred a Patch reporter from attending.

However, several Virginia-Highland, Morningside and Midtown residents voiced their concerns to Patch after the meeting.

The biggest concerns included the quantity and behavior of Loca Luna patrons, where they leave their cars, and the lack of city law enforcement.

Davis-Turner promised to hold another community meeting toward the end of the summer. Additional requests for comment from Kline and Loca Luna in the weeks following the meeting have been declined.

Atlanta Police failed to return requests for more information about the incidents Saturday night. However, one source with knowledge of the Saturday incident told Patch that the shots occurred outside the Simply Sun Tanning salon located near the club at 560 Amsterdam Ave.

How do you think the Loca Luna situation should be handled? Do you think the parties are out of control? Tell us in the comments!

- Hunt Archbold contributed to this story