UPDATE: 6pm Newscast Story Wednesday 2/24
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- WSAZ.com's Randy Yohe sat down Wednesday with Huntington's police chief and mayor, who wanted to get three main points across to the public about the recent downtown bar shootings.

First of all, they say Huntington is mostly a safe place and well patrolled.

Secondly, they pointed out that 99.9 percent of Huntington's bar owners are extremely responsible.

Last of all, they say cracking down hard on the irresponsible late night big crowd "megabar" owners will chase the culprits away.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook says the Club Venom scene allowed rampant marijuana smoking and had virtually no security. He said metal detectors were not used the night of the shooting.

Holbrook says police need to be able to enforce legal codes like fire codes at these problem clubs, as well as metal detector use and other common sense rules and regulations.

Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe says he's already in the process of helping turn Holbrook's common sense suggestions into law.

"We're working with Council, the city attorney, the governor, the ABC Commission," he said. "I guarantee you will see things changing."

Holbrook says his detectives still have no suspects or real leads in the Club Venom case, mainly because only five people have talked to police.

Holbrook added that he's closer to presenting the case to a grand jury and making a public statement.

Wolfe says restrictions are needed to deter irresponsible bar owners who allow hundreds of people in their establishments.

Three people were wounded early Saturday in a shooting inside a large night club.

Three men were shot outside another club three months ago. A Huntington police officer shot and killed a fourth man inside the bar.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook says the bars had large occupancy levels and inadequate staffing to police themselves.

Holbrook says restrictions should include occupancy limits and security measures such as metal detectors.

UPDATE: 6pm Newscast Monday 2/22
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- With an escalating fear of being on downtown Huntington streets at night, there's a growing public demand for a city safety and security crackdown at these late night clubs.

We talked with Huntington City Councilman Steve Williams who likened these shootings and downtown to the O.K. Corral.

The public's fear is noticeable -- even in the daytime. Right now, night clubs have no legal security requirements. Huntington's city attorney has said the often discussed bar moratorium would violate state law.

There are many who think those laws have to be changed -- and quick -- before any more people get shot or killed or even go downtown at night.

Williams wants an ordinance that would require nightclubs such as Club Venom to have and use metal detectors and run video surveillance cameras -- equipment similar to the cameras and detectors used at the Cabell County Courthouse.

"If someone comes in with a gun and you have no witnesses, you have the video that's required," Williams says. "It's like fire safety rules, and if they don't comply shut them down and make the bar owner libel."

Club Venom owner David Flowers says he had the normal security on Saturday night, which included bouncers and using metal wands. He says the wands may have not been used on everyone. Some clubs wand men and not women. Police say the metal detecting is inconsistent at best and the answer is simple.

Huntington Police Sgt. David Williams said security measures must be consistent -- "not just a few people here and there," he says.

Folks with the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership say City Council basically ignored a study that showed a concentration of violent crimes is where many 4th Avenue nightclubs are located and keep reopening.

"Reducing the number of bars that serve alcohol downtown would do the best good for the community," says Anne McGee with the the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership.

Flowers said Monday that he's voluntarily given up his liquor license and closed his doors for good, adding that he's happy to be out of the business.

Many Huntington business owners lock and unlock their doors for each customer to keep dangerous people out.

Police say they need your help. They have no leads on the Club Venom shooter. Out of nearly 100 witnesses in the bar when the shooting occurred, only five would talk.

Huntington Police Detective, Sgt. John Williams say the three victims are Robert Turbevill, 23, from Solon, Ohio, Kaitlin Marcum, 21, from South Point, Ohio and Darin Drane, 22, from Institute, W.Va.

Turbevill is listed in fair condition at Cabell Huntington Hospital.. The hospital does not have any information on Marcum and Drane.

Williams also released information on the suspect in the shooting.

Police say he is a light skinned black male, 5’8” to 5’10”, 140-160 pounds. He was wearing a white polo type shirt with dreads in his hair.

Anyone with information on the suspect or the shooting is asked to call Huntington Police.

WSAZ.com talked to David Flowers, the owner of Club Venom on Monday.

Flowers says he has voluntarily given up his liquor license, and has closed the club for good.

Flowers says he had the "normal" security going on Saturday night.

Flowers says he had bouncers and metal detectors, but he can't say if the detectors were used on anyone.

UPDATE: 6pm Story
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- One minute you're at a club dancing, the next you're trying to run out the door after hearing gunshots, only to be shot yourself.

That's the reality that three people had to face early Saturday morning after someone fired a gun into a crowd at a club in Huntington.

"You come out to have a good time, everybody gets a little intoxicated, but these young people, they just take it too far," Tracy Phillips, who was at the club early this morning, said.

Police say the incident started as a fight on the dance floor at Club Venom on 1125 4th Avenue.

Phillips says he watched it all happen.

"It all started over some guys shaking their dreads in front of another guy's face, and the next thing you know, they were shooting,” he said. “They started firing. A guy was trying to get out of there and got shot."

Huntington Police say someone fired a handgun into a crowd, hitting two men and a woman in the lower body.

Phillips says they weren't even involved with the fight that led to the gunfire.

"A young lady got shot and a young man,” he said. “They didn't have anything to do with anything, just trying to get out of the club.”

Some people in Huntington say it's one thing when somebody provokes violence, but the idea of being shot randomly is especially concerning.

"You can just be standing there,” Scott Davis said. “It's hard to tell. A gun goes off, people are freaking and running. This stuff shouldn't be happening at all."

"It's a college town, it should be safe for kids,” Charles Clifford said. “People come here to get educated and have fun, they shouldn't worry about getting hurt."

"We need metal detectors in the clubs so people can come out and enjoy themselves, and innocent people won't get shot and killed,” Phillips said. “We won't have funerals for innocent bodies."

Detectives are still investigating and conducting interviews, and no arrests have been made yet.

Police say none of the victims are from Huntington, and their injuries are not life threatening.

It happened at club Venom on 4th avenue in Huntington at 2:40 a.m. The club is located between 11th and 12th street.

In a news release Huntington police say the incident began as an altercation on the dance floor. During the fight police say one person pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots into the crowd.

As a result of the shooting three people, two males and one female, were transported to the hospital. None of the injuries are considered life threatening.

Police are currently conducting interviews to help identify the people involved in this shooting.

It happened at club Venom on 4th avenue in Huntington about 2:45 a.m. The club is located between 11th and 12th street.

Police have not released the condition of the victims or if there is a suspect in the case.

Keep clicking on wsaz.com for more information as soon as it is available.