Brother of Zelda’s shooting victim speaks out
Update: Trial date set for man accused in Zelda’s Nightclub shooting
Palm Springs police are releasing more information tonight on the shooting at Zelda’s nightclub nearly two weeks ago. A 35-year-old employee was rushed to the hospital, where he’s still recovering after getting shot on Friday, April 18 at 12:50 AM. “The guy just pulled out a gun and shot him,” said the brother of the victim, who did not want to give his identity. ” It was as simple as that.”
He says the victim, a father of two, just underwent his second surgery on an infected gunshot wound. “The bullet went all the way through him, the stomach area and they’re draining that right now,” said the brother.
The Palm Springs police department continues to release small bits of information about the shooting including that it happened outside the club in the parking lot, the victim was taken to a hospital by a friend and the suspect ran away before police arrived. But, that’s not what upsets the brother the most. He believes the owner of Zelda’s, Mike McCormick is trying to protect his club. “It wouldn’t bother me so bad if he made an effort, or wouldn’t try and cover things up,” said the brother. “To me, he’s still going to get the business.”
In fact, he says this could have all been avoided if McCormick did not make a frugal decision. “They pulled the arm security that night, because it was a little slow because of the Coachella fest and to cut a couple of corners.”
The brother of the victim’s also upset because it took the Palm Springs police department nearly two weeks to release any information. He says the officers working the case want his brother to withhold what he knows. “The policeman said, ‘We’re not trying to spook anybody so just keep it quiet, and something to that effect.”
We asked Zelda’s owner for a response, he says he has “no comment.” While the victim continues to recover, his brother wants the owner to step up and put things in perspective. “It’s a human being we’re talking about, not a business, that’s the most important thing, that’s what kills me.”
The shooting is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Palm Springs Police Department at 760-323-8116 or Valley Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 is looking into the case and we’ll deliver more details as soon as we have them.
