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'I can't die in this club'

A mother of five who was wounded in the Cincinnati nightclub shooting described a chaotic scene in which she and other club patrons were frantically crawling over one another to reach the exits and said that all she could think about was her children.

One man was killed and Angel Higgins and 15 other people were injured in the shooting at the Cameo club, a popular hip-hop music spot near the Ohio river east of downtown Cincinnati. The venue's operator says it is closing Friday.

Higgins told WCPO-TV that she had one thought going through her mind: I can't die in this club.

"All I was thinking about was my kids," Higgins said. "Am I going to make it up out of here?"

The initial investigation indicated a dispute in the bar escalated into a gunfight early Sunday, Police Chief Eliot Isaac said. Police believe multiple shooters were involved, and they estimate more than 20 shots were fired. No club security footage of the shooting has emerged.

Higgins said she felt one bullet fly past her face. Soon after, another struck her in the leg and she collapsed.

"I fell and everybody was just diving on me, falling on top of me, and all I thought was, 'I cannot die by getting smothered by all these people,'" she said.

Higgins stumbled out of the club and then drove herself to a hospital. She said police and firefighters used ambulances for those victims who were more seriously injured. Two of the injured remained in critical condition Tuesday, and three were in stable condition.

Police declined to comment on whether they had identified any possible suspects, but Isaac said they were making progress in their investigation.

Cameo club operator Julian "Jay" Rodgers released a statement late Monday saying the venue would close its doors after receiving notice to vacate from the property owner. He said Cameo had planned to move out in May because of the landlord's planned sale of the property but will turn over the keys Friday instead. He earlier voluntarily surrendered its liquor licence.



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