Reward Grows in Club Elite Shooting Case

Authorities are offering more than $20,000 for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for killing two people and injuring another 22 in a shooting at Palmetto's Club Elite over the weekend, and Bradenton City Council members are urging people to speak up.

Most of those injured in the shooting are Bradenton residents, and in such a small community, council members say they know someone who was at the club or someone who is related to the shooting victims.

Bradenton City Councilman Harold Byrd said that he wants to see this case resolved so that the community can put an end to retaliation.

“We have to get rid of the elements causing these problems,” Byrd said. “The criminal element had to go.”

While they have heard that people are afraid to tell police what they know, both Byrd and City Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey urged anyone with information to come forward. Barnebey said she realizes there is fear, but maybe the $21,000 “can encourage” someone to do the right thing.

So why should the Bradenton City Council care about what happens in Palmetto?

"We're all one community," Byrd said. "We need to solve these problems so they don't happen again."

He said the communities need to work together to develop a community-wide approach to teach non-violent conflict resolution.

Right now, he said, too many people think that conflict is solved by pulling out a gun or tackling a referee or having a fist fight. Instead, he said, we need to teach that there are alternatives to solving conflicts.

"Not just teach it, live it," Byrd said.