As twentysomethings sipped colorful $12 mixed drinks and swayed to hip-hop beats on the jammed dance floor, several Boston police officers wandered through the dimly lit Aria nightclub early yesterday morning, scanning the crowd for signs of trouble. The police had been tipped days earlier that gang members were planning to show up inside the red velvet-draped club.
And at 1:43 a.m., trouble came.
Several small groups started arguing, then fights broke out. Soon, as many as 35 people were fighting, some smashing champagne bottles on others.
Suddenly a man pulled out a handgun and began shooting into the crowd, according to police. People hit the floor, then ran in a stampede for the exits, according to witnesses. Bullets struck two people in the arm before the gunman attempted to flee.
"I tried to run, but I was pushed to the floor and some guy fell on me," said a woman who returned to the club yesterday afternoon to retrieve her coat and, like the others, said she was too fearful to give her name. "It was madness."
The police officers, including members of the Youth Violence Strike Force, wrestled with the suspect in a violent struggle.
After subduing the suspect, police found themselves facing an angry crowd. Several people started attacking police, who called for backup. Moments later, dozens of officers were on the scene, and the club was emptied. A state trooper assigned to the task force sustained a broken arm in the scuffle. He was taken to a hospital, as were the two gunshot victims and a man who sustained a cut on his head after being hit with a bottle. The gunman was identified by police yesterday as Damion Jamaal-Anthony Haley, 24, of Milton. He faces several charges, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a police officer. Also, police said, there are six outstanding default warrants against Haley.
Police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the presence of the police officers and their quick reactions may have prevented more serious injuries. "When that activity broke out, luckily there was a tremendous response," she said.
Most of the officers originally inside the club were members of the Youth Violence Strike Force and were in street clothes but wore Royal-blue windbreaker-style jackets emblazoned with 'Boston Police' on the back, she said.
George Regan, spokesman for Aria, said, "To call this incident bizarre is an understatement. This club spends a lot of time and money on security, and there were seven to nine police officers in there when this happened, so I don't know what else can be done."
Yesterday afternoon, many patrons who fled the club after the gunfire returned to 264 Tremont St. to retrieve their coats and other belongings left behind. Three women who said they frequent the club, who declined to give their names, said Aria has been the scene of violence in the past, including a large fight about three weeks ago. But, they said, the club is still popular among the under-30 crowd.
All the patrons who returned to pick up their belongings said security at the door had been tight, and they were amazed that someone was able to sneak a gun inside.
The security detail at the door patted down everyone, making men remove their hats and women open their purses. Inside, the club was dark and there was little space to maneuver without bumping into someone.
A man identified by an Aria staff member as the manager of the club showed up yesterday about 2:45 p.m. He said that nine Boston police officers had subdued the gunman in seconds.
