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The Oregon Liquor Control Commission posted a suspension of the liquor license of the Fontaine Bleu nightclub, 237 NE Broadway, on Saturday after one man died and two were wounded by gunfire.

(Stuart Tomlinson/The Oregonian)

The Portland club where a triple shooting killed a man over the weekend has a history of "serious and persistent problems" – including fights, noise and unruly crowds -- and created a "serious danger to public health and safety," Oregon Liquor Control Commission inspectors found in suspending the nightspot's liquor license.

The immediate suspension was hand-delivered to the Fontaine Bleau's owner, Rodney Dewalt, just hours after one man was shot and killed and two patrons wounded early Saturday outside the nightclub at 237 N.E. Broadway.

The shooting followed a "large fight" inside the club that led to the ejection of at least one person, according to the liquor agency's five-page order of suspension. One of the club's security guards was struck in the head with a barstool during the confrontation, the order said.

Durieul Joseph Harris, 30, died of multiple gunshot wounds, the state medical examiner said. The suspension order noted that Harris died "approximately 15 feet from the (club's) front door."

The two people who were injured also suffered gunshot wounds. Police identified them as Fredrick Glenn Conner, 44, and Shelia Renee Shelby, 50. Both are recovering at a Portland hospital.

Police have made no arrests and have released few details about what led up to the shooting.

The melee was just the latest in a string of fights, police calls to the address and neighbor complaints about the club. It came just a month after Dewalt met with police, officials from the Portland Fire Bureau and representatives from the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement to discuss the problems.

At the meeting Oct. 10, Dewalt told officials he wasn't responsible for his patrons' behavior once they left the club and "he would not provide any oversight for his patrons' activities once they left his property," according to the suspension order.

Dewalt admitted during the meeting that the patrons could cause problems, but said he wouldn't "expose his security to that type of risk, preferring that police deal with the problems."

The club's problems even prompted its bouncers to call police in August to tell them they were concerned for their own safety because of an upcoming "after-party" following a concert. The bouncers considered quitting, they said. Dewalt agreed to change the format for the event after talking with police, according to the report.

The OLCC listed a series of disturbances and complaints this year involving the club as well as "lewd or unlawful activities," including:

June 2, 12:30 a.m.: Police responded to a noise call. Officer heard "loud bass" coming from inside and 25 people loitering near the front door.

June 23, 2:17 a.m.: Police arrested a patron on an outstanding warrant as he was leaving the club. As officers contacted the wanted man, he grabbed a pistol from his pants pocket and dropped it on the ground. He told police he was there for his birthday party.

July 20, 11:38 p.m.: Police responded to a disturbance call after a patron pushed and kicked other customers and threw chairs. He was arrested on a second-degree trespassing allegation.

Aug. 24, 2:12 a.m.: Police were called to a fight. When officers arrived, 50 to 75 people out front were "walking and yelling at each other," according to the OLCC report. Cars were blocking Broadway. Once inside the club, police noted "an overwhelming odor of marijuana."

Saturday's shooting occurred sometime after Dewalt decided to shut down the club, he said in an earlier phone interview. Two men had been arguing in the restroom of the club sometime after midnight, he told the Oregonian.

He talked with them and had his security guards escort them out, he said. But the atmosphere remained tense, he said, so he decided to turn on the house lights and close the club for the night.

Officers responded to a caller's report of a "riot," with people fighting. OLCC inspectors said despite the club's limit of 155 patrons, there were at least 200 people inside when violence broke out.

Police Capt. Mark Kruger sent a letter to the liquor agency's enforcement director, John Eckhart, asking for the immediate license suspension.

The OLCC took the action after finding that the nightclub presented a serious public danger and that Dewalt failed to take action to prevent further problems. Dewalt has until Feb. 7 to appeal the suspension.

The Fontaine Bleau was registered with the Secretary of State's Office in May 2012.

Kris Bakouros, who lives near the club, said the late-night noise bothers her as does the the broken glass and vomit outside her home. Despite repeated attempts, she was unable to contact the owners to see about working out the problems, she said. Her phone calls weren't returned, and security guards wouldn't allow her inside during business hours to talk with Dewalt, she said.

"It has not been an asset for the neighborhood," she said.

A bartender at the club said she saw few problems inside the club in the past year. The group Saturday came to see an up-and-coming fashion model who was supposed to make an appearance, but never did, she said.

She, other employees and the club's management had been trying to build the business from the ground up, sponsoring salsa bands for older crowds, weddings and record release parties, the bartender said.

"It was just bad luck,'' she said of Saturday's violence.

Police are asking anyone with information on the shootings to call the police non-emergency line at 503-823-3333, or to contact Detective Bryan Steed at 503-823-0395 , bryan.steed@portlandoregon.gov, or Detective Michele Michaels at 503-823-0692, michele.michaels@portlandoregon.gov,

--Stuart Tomlinson