Police: Shooting At DONNYBROOK Concert Likely Self-Defense

December 8, 2005

Mark Poepsel of KOLD News-13 has issued the following report:

"I saw the fight break out inside and I tried to break it up, and I got punched a couple of times. A couple minutes later, speakers were being thrown and a kid got beat with a mic stand."

Rawley Burriss is a regular at Skrappy's in Tucson, a non-profit nightclub that caters to at-risk and homeless teens.

When a fight broke out Wednesday night [Dec. 7], club operators say the stopped it immediately.

They blame older fans of one of the night's heavy metal bands [DONNYBROOK, SHATTERED REALM, HOODS and BLACK MY HEART] for starting the violence.

Skrappy's workers called police, but in about 10 minutes the fight got out of hand in the parking lot.

Four or five people went to the hospital for broken jaws, a friend got his face ripped, it was nasty," Burriss said.

"When I came down here and saw police cars and everything, I had my son sitting next to me alive and well. I just completely broke down," said Therese Gambill, parent.

Witnesses say people were fighting with a hammer, machete and semi-automatic gun.

The victim was shot with a handgun.

The shooter hasn't been charged.

Police say it could have been self-defense. They have 200 interviews to finish combing through before deciding if any charges will be filed.

TPD Sergeant Ramon Batista said, "In the past, we've responded here for calls, but it's not a trouble spot."

Witnesses say parents were extremely upset after the incident. Some said they'll never let their kids return to Skrappy's but others want the club to remain open.

"It's one of the only places in Tucson kids can go," said Gambill.

"I absolutely think it needs to remain open. It's the most unique youth development program in the state, and in Tucson it's central to what goes on downtown," said Lynne Borden, Ph. D., a member of the non-profit board overseeing Skrappy's.

Skrappy's will hold no shows during the weekend of December 9th-11th, but it will stay open for homeless and at-risk-teens to talk about any trauma they may have suffered during and after the massive brawl.

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