Denver officials have suspended the license of a nightclub where nine people suffered gunshot wounds, of which one person died, after an early morning incident in southeast Denver.

Citing repeated violence, unlicensed security and other licensing violations, Molly Duplechian, who oversees Denver’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, issued an order Wednesday immediately suspending the dance cabaret and liquor licenses held by the Yak and Yeti Restaurant and Event Center, 9755 E. Hampden Ave. 

The business is prohibited from selling alcohol or providing entertainment until the completion of the disciplinary case, according to city documents.

Denver police responded to a call at the Yak and Yeti Restaurant Sunday morning, when official documents state officers found a total of 66 shell casings inside the premises and on the patio from 45 mm and 9 mm caliber guns. The nightclub is known as Ultra Lounge.

A witness said that security was lax Saturday evening and early Sunday morning and that security did not check for weapons before patrons entered. 

City licensing officials also cite an April incident in which unlicensed security guards allegedly injured an intoxicated patron and a March beating in the parking lot where a man died.

DLCP records list Dol Bhatarri as the owner of the Yak and Yeti Restaurant and Event Center; however, social media posts made by Dionte Wilkins indicate that he is the owner of the business and has operated it under the name “Ultra Lounge East” for more than a year. 

In recent social media posts following the shootings, Wilkins identifies himself as the owner of Ultra Lounge East. 

Information obtained by DLCP indicates that Bhattari had sold and/or subleased the licensed premises to Wilkins. However, the parties did not file a transfer of ownership application or otherwise notify the state or DLCP of the transaction. 

The Denver Gazette reached out to Dionte Wilkins and Dol Bhatarri, both identified as having an interest in the venue, for comment, but neither has responded.

In a social media post on his Facebook page, Wilkins posted, “Smh Welp! That’s the end. I’m sorry, Denver. This will be addressed, just not right now.”

The Yak and Yeti’s listing on Yelp, a popular social media platform for restaurants and events, showed the establishment “permanently closed.”

The summary suspension order comes on the heels of the Denver City Council’s recent decision to delay the vote on an ordinance that would allow some entertainment establishments to operate until 4 a.m.

“I asked for this to be postponed,” Denver City Council President Diana Romero Campbell said during Monday’s regular council meeting. “There was an incident that happened in Southeast Denver, and I wanted to do some additional community engagement.” 

The bill is expected to return to the Denver City Council on Aug. 3.

Under the ordinance, any business offering live entertainment must maintain records for three years and provide them to a law enforcement officer or city official within three business days of a request, according to the bill text. For bars which regularly host entertainment past midnight, the ordinance also requires a security plan and background checks for owners and managers.

The ordinance states that nightlife entertainment businesses must be equipped with video surveillance and must adopt an approved security plan, but both requirements are part of rulemaking that has not happened yet.

Business representatives will have the opportunity to appear before a city hearing officer and present evidence and testimony, city officials said in an email. 

The Denver City Attorney’s Office will represent the city and provide evidence and witnesses. At an undetermined time after the hearing, the city hearing officer will issue a recommended decision. That recommended decision, evidence, testimony and facts in the case will be reviewed by Duplechian, who will then issue a final decision in the case.

Summary suspension orders are usually rare in Denver, city officials note. But this is the third one issued this year in the city. The first two were to Nativ Denver (liquor/cabaret licenses) and Vibe Smoke Shop (tobacco license).

Denver Gazette news partner 9News contributed to this story.