1 Killed, 8 Injured in Shooting at Party at Calif. Hookah Lounge

San Bernardino police encountered "a large hostile crowd" when officers responded to a shooting that erupted after an altercation during an unauthorized party at a hookah lounge.

May 22, 2022

2 min read

By Hunter Lee

Source The Whittier Daily News, Calif.

A 20-year-old man was killed and eight other people were injured when a shooting broke out at a large, unauthorized party in a San Bernardino hookah lounge late Friday night, police said.

Officers were called just before midnight about shots fired at Tha Blu Flame in the 3600 block of East Highland Avenue near Palm Avenue, where a crowd of about 100 people had gathered for the unpermitted, illicit event, said Sgt. Equino Thomas of the San Bernardino Police Department.

During the party, he said, an altercation between at least two people led to an exchange of gunfire.

The shooting continued into the parking lot, where one person was found and pronounced dead. He was identified as 20-year-old Allen Gresham, Jr., a San Bernardino resident.

The eight others who were injured were either taken to a hospital or transported themselves. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, Thomas said.

Police officers were confronted by "a large hostile crowd" when they arrived at the hookah lounge, he said.

"Due to the crowd's aggressive behavior toward officers, the Department requested assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department to help secure the scene," police said in a news release.

Two people were detained and later arrested, one on suspicion of possessing a loaded, stolen firearm and the other on outstanding warrants, police said. It was not known whether the two were linked to the shooting.

San Bernardino Police Chief David Green said in a statement that his department "will be working to not only identify and arrest the suspects, but to shut down the business whose illegal activities led to the shooting."

Representatives for the lounge could not be reached for comment.

The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, and a description of the suspected shooter was not available.

Police said they believe the victims got caught in the gunfire but were not targets.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting can contact Detective B. Keith at [email protected], (909)384-5638 or Homicide Sergeant J. Plummer at [email protected], 909-384-5613.

Staff writer Monserrat Solis contributed to this report.

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