Medusa nightclub, a problematic lounge situated at East 14th and St. Clair, is no more.
This weekend, the owners decided to close the business, about a week after a fatal shooting happened in the early morning hours of December 7. Monte Baker, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The move seems to have been influenced by the Bibb administration and their stance on violent crime at downtown bars. Medusa’s closure comes three months after Mayor Bibb had Play Bar & Grill boarded up in the Flats East Bank following a Sunday afternoon shooting in early September.
“I am able to confirm that Medusa is no longer operating,” city spokesperson Jorge Ramos Pantoja said in a statement to Scene. “We appreciate the property owners’ collaborative efforts to enhance public safety.”
A contact for Medusa did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
A haven for Cleveland’s trap and club scene, Medusa was also a magnet for late night scuffles that often turned violent.
There have been at least four reported shootings at the club in the past five years. Four people were shot on New Year’s Eve in 2020 after musician Chief Keef performed; four were shot after Cleveland rapper Piggy played on March 31, 2022; three men were arrested by U.S. marshals after a shooting outside on last May.
But the death of Monte Baker seems to have been the breaking point.
“Medusa Night Club is heartbroken by the tragic incident that occurred at our establishment,” owners wrote in an Instagram post.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the young man who lost his life,” it read. “Our entire team is grieving with the community, and our prayers are with everyone affected during this difficult time.”