Black Pearl Nightclub Shut Down

Richland Co., SC (WOLO) —  The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on sexually oriented businesses countywide starting with a stop work order now in effect for the Black Pearl Nightclub.

Sheriff Lott says they’re working County Attorney’s and The Department of Zoning they were able to close the “hotbed for criminal activity” for good. Lott says since 2016 there have been 26 different criminal incidents that have take place at the club, the most recent last week.

The most recent victims of some of that violence according to Sheriff Lott were 23 year old Torance Peoples and 26 year old Trevonne Judge were gunned down and killed during a birthday party last week.
Sheriff Leon Lott says the business was in violation of requirements needed for sexually explicit businesses allowing them to shut it down and now are able to criminally prosecute anyone who reopens it.

Sheriff Lott says they’re just getting started. The plan includes cracking down on several clubs through out the county that are sexually oriented.

Stay with ABC Columbia News as we continue to follow this developing story on air and online.