Owner of Shuttered Stamford Club Speaks About Shooting

In the wake of last weekend's shooting outside his downtown Stamford club that left five people injured and the admitted gunman in custody, the club owner said in an interview he wants people to believe the city nightlife is safe.

In an interview with NBC Connecticut, Oscar Moreno, the owner of Tino’s Nightclub at 84 W. Park Pl., told the television station that his club was safe and he is concerned it will forever be associated with violence.

About 1:40 a.m. July 13 as hundreds of patrons of clubs and bars in the Columbus Park neighborhood were leaving and pouring into the streets, an apparent fight over a woman became violent. A fusillade of at least 10 bullets were fired into the crowd as people fled in all directions.

A bystander's chilling video of the chaotic scene was posted on social media and Stamford Police are using it in their investigation. The gunman, identified as Dayron Wills, 22, who lived just blocks away at 300 Tresser Blvd., was apprehended at the scene and told Stamford Police he was the shooter. Wills remains held on $1 million bond set on multiple assault and weapons charges.

The following day, Moreno met with city, state, law enforcement and local business officials and agreed to voluntarily shut down the club and surrender his liquor license. Stamford Mayor David Martin has said Tino’s will likely reopen but under a new name, and that violence in downtown “will not be tolerated.”

“We want to make sure the people who come to Stamford and our club, they are safe,” Moreno told NBC.