Update on fatal club shooting

SMITH COUNTY – Two men have died after a shooting happened at a club in Smith County on Sunday morning. Smith County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 Derrick Choice told our news partner KETK that he was called out to the Exotic Social Club on State Highway 64 at around 8 a.m. on Sunday to assist at the scene of a fatal shooting.

Choice said he found two men who died at the scene when a shooting happened at the club earlier that morning at around 1:40 a.m. Choice has ordered autopsies to be done on the two men’s bodies.

KTBB spoke with Smith County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Sargent Larry Christian of the cause of Sunday’s shooting. The Sargent didn’t mince words.

“You know, that for anyone that doesn’t believe the Tyler, Smith County area doesn’t have a gang problem, needs to wake up. Because we do have a gang problem, here in this county and the city. And, that we will address the problem very strongly, as far as taking the necessary enforcement action to disband these gangs. And, to make a dent in their criminal activities. Not just our agency. But local, municiple, state and federal will be be getting involved in it as well.”.

The shooting is currently under investigation by law enforcement.