This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
An altercation inside the "adult entertainment" VIP Showgirls Club on Friday night, left one man dead, say authorities, according to KTLA.
Authorities were dispatched to the VIP Showgirls Club in the 12100 block of Victory Boulevard around 10pm Friday after a shooting was reported. When officers arrived onto the scene, they found that 30-year-old Thomas Valdez of Santa Clarita had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Valdez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, 30-year-old Forte Romanta of North Hollywood, reportedly fled the scene with his girlfriend, 22-year-old Anna Baez -- an employee of the club -- after allegedly producing a gun and shooting Valdez multiple times, say detectives.
Romanta has been booked on murder and is being held at $1 million bail. Baez was booked for Accessory to Murder and is being held on $500,000 bail.
