The strip club from which NBA superstar Ja Morant filmed himself brandishing a gun has a bloody history and has been the site of multiple murders, according to an insider who’s spoken to the New York Post.
Shotgun Willie’s in Glendale, Colorado is owned by the wife of Mayor Mike Dunafon, Deborah Dunafon. It’s described as “the perfect destination for the modern gentleman looking to blow off some steam,” by its website and has hosted some high-profile guests, including comedian Dave Chapelle, artiste CeeLo, and players from the Denver Nuggets and Broncos.
Even so, it’s been the scene of lots of violence.
We’ve had a lot of drama at that club, and we’ve had two people killed at that club,” the source told the Post. “We’re not dirty … we want to keep it safe, but I think there’s some neglect going on there for sure.”
Two people died there during a stabbing incident in 2020, including the attacker, while three others were injured. The previous year, an executive from Kroger was killed during a fight when an employee put him in a chokehold.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the attorney defending the club on the back of a wrongful death suit filed by the exec’s family died in the car of one of the club’s employees after getting drunk at the club one night.
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“I’ve definitely seen more fights there than I have at any other club,” a dancer was quoted as saying. “It’s just the scene there.”
“We’ve been around 40 years, so from time to time, stuff happens,” the owner said. “The past couple years has been nothing.”
Shotgun Willie’s staff were particularly upset over Morant’s antics given what’s transpired at the club in recent times.
“We’ve already had a shooting and a stabbing … one of our door guys was in the hospital for 6 months,” another dancer lamented. “The fact that [Morant] didn’t get patted down by our security before he came in pissed everyone off.”
Deborah Dunafon insists Morant was searched by security before entering the club but admits that one of the player’s guards may have had the weapon upon entry. Local police have carried out an investigation but the player wasn’t charged with anything as they found no evidence of a crime.
