Raleigh police now investigating Paris Lounge shooting as homicide after victim dies

A man shot at Paris Lounge over the weekend has died from his injuries, Raleigh Police said Wednesday.

Eric Jenade Freeman was found in the club’s parking lot Sunday morning and was taken to WakeMed in serious condition, according to a news release. He died Wednesday, he said.

Two other people were injured in the incident, police said. Marcus Noel Best, 31, was taken to WakeMed with stab wounds, and Brandon Lamar Butler, 36, walked into Duke Raleigh Hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Police have not identified any suspects but are now investigating the shooting as a homicide.

Nuness Biongo, an owner of Paris Lounge, said security tried to break up a fight, The News & Observer reported.

“Then everybody got into an altercation, throwing punches at security,” he said.

A 15-member security team and two off-duty police officers were at the club, The News & Observer previously reported.

Biongo said it was the first fight since the club opened in March.

“The music shut off inside, and everyone just panicked and took shelter,” Biongo said.

Raleigh homicides up

There have now been 30 homicides in 2019. There were 17 homicides in 2018 and 27 in 2017. The last time there were more homicides was in 2008 with 35, according to police data.

As of Dec. 9, 98 people had been shot in 2019. There were 103 last year and 113 in 2017, according Raleigh police.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at 919-834-HELP or visit raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Raleigh police now investigating Paris Lounge shooting as homicide after victim dies."