Teen shooter at dance hall sentenced to 2 years in jail

Published 12:13 am Saturday, July 7, 2012

A Vicksburg teen will spend two years in prison for shooting another teen in the leg at a dance hall.

Albert Buchanan Jr., 17, 365 Drayton Road, pleaded guilty this week to aggravated assault and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick to two years in prison followed by five years’ probation.

He faced up to 20 years in prison.

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On Aug. 20, Buchanan, then 16, shot a 15-year-old in the thigh at Swag Stars Dance Co., 1925 Washington St. Buchanan was arrested the next day at his home and charged as an adult.

Initially, Buchanan told police that the 15-year-old was shot by a man he only referred to as “Loco Larry,” according to court records.

Buchanan was not able to give police a clear description of the man he said fired the gun.

The 15-year-old was taken to River Region Medical Center where a .22-caliber bullet was removed from his leg.

Patrick also ordered Buchanan to pay the victim’s mother $800 restitution to cover medical costs.

Six days after the shooting, the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 2-1 to reinstate a 1995 chancery court order banning night clubs in the Swag Stars building.

The teen dance club was opened in April 2011 by Roosevelt Cooper in a building rented from Sylous Bradley of Vicksburg.

In 1995, Bradley and his wife, Addie Louise Bradley, operated a club in the building called Lou’s Place, but the club was declared a public nuisance by Warren County Chancery Court Judge Vicki Barnes.

Barnes issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Bradley or any tenant from having a lounge, nightclub, bar, social club, “or establishment which would encourage a public gathering.”

The injunction was ordered at the request of city officials, who complained that the business was a threat to public safety.

Cooper tried to open another teen dance hall at 1720 Clay St,, but the city denied a request for a parking variance in May.