Officials confident Lake concert will be safe
MOUNT DORA — Officials said Thursday they’re confident a rap concert rescheduled for this weekend at the venue where a performance this summer led to chaotic crowds and a shooting death blocks away will go off without incident.
Atlanta-based rapper Lucci will perform starting at 9 p.m. Sunday at Mieluz Grand Hall on Old Highway 441, promising to “mystify attendees with his lyrical magic,” according to a Facebook post.
During the most recent event July 21 at Mieluz — which was marketed as “one of the biggest parties in Central Florida” — Steve Charlostin, 22, was found fatally shot after the concert had ended about six blocks away in the Sylvan Shores neighborhood.
Lucci was originally due to appear last Sunday, but the appearance was pushed back a week because of Hurricane Irma.
“We have a good security plan in place here,” Police Chief John O’Grady said. He said more law enforcement won’t be needed as the primary problem with the earlier concert was with the crowds caused by oversold tickets.
The promoter oversold the event by 500 tickets, for about 1,000 total. The show featured several DJs and erupted in confusion after many who couldn’t get in stuck around to party in parking lots. The spillover crowd required swarms of law officers to handle traffic and oversee things when Mieluz closed about 2 a.m.
Seeking to allay the worries of nervous neighbors, Mount Dora police worked with the venue owners to ensure that upcoming events aren’t oversold and to close adjacent parking lots. The owners said they will use special stamps on the tickets to avoid any fakes.
“The plan that was in place after the first event — I’m well pleased with and I’m very comfortable with the competence of our police department,” City Council member Cal Rolfson said.
He said several worried residents reached out to him, wanting to know about safety precautions for Sunday’s concert.
“I have had some contacts — they’ve just expressed a concern of the unknown and they obviously may not know what enforcement and safety procedures are in place,” he said.
Several media organizations have reported shootings at previous Lucci concerts, but O’Grady said the police department vetted Lucci’s background and was not troubled.
Rashad Bishop Findley, 24, also was found close to Charlostin in a nearby driveway bleeding from a bullet wound, an arrest report said. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center and stabilized.
He was charged with seconddegree murder and is being held at the Lake County Jail on a $150,000 bond. Deputies are looking for a third person they believe was at the scene.
In the days after the concert, the venue was sited for more than two dozen code violations. The violations were cleared, and on Aug. 11 Mileuz received a temporary occupancy certificate.
On the night of the July concert, police also responded to an unrelated shooting in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart on U.S. Highway 441. Two people were shot.