The Avalon in downtown Columbus closed for a year after the shooting

The city of Columbus has obtained a court order allowing it to close a troubled downtown nightclub that was the scene of a fatal shooting in June.

Columbus City Attorney Zack Klein said Thursday that an environmental court in Franklin County Municipal Court ordered the Avalon nightclub, located at 205 N 5th Street, to close for one year.

Between January 23 and August, Columbus police were called to the scene 78 times for incidents, including fights and theft of weapons from vehicles. At least six cases of assaults, fights or shootings have been reported at the club, including a June 14 shooting in which two people died and two others were injured.

Police were called to the scene following a report of shots fired in November, Klein said. The city said the club ignored previous court orders and refused to allow inspections.

“I want Columbus to have a great nightlife, but it needs to be safe,” Klein said in a Facebook post. “Landlords cannot violate court orders, continue to witness violence and criminal activity and expect us to allow it.”

Klein said the city may also submit an objection to the business’s future liquor license applications to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.

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