Two DJs (POISON DART) and an Associate Killed at Auburndale Bar

AUBURNDALE | Metal detectors and pat downs for weapons weren't enough to prevent a triple homicide at an Auburndale club early this morning where two disc jockeys and another man were shot and killed.
Antone Geargo Neely, 29, also known as Tony Montana, of 7137 Waterside Drive, Tampa, died at the Thunderbird Inn, where the shooting happened. Michael S. Rattigan, 35, also known as Chris Rock, of 10516 Gold Water Lane, Riverview, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he died. Both were DJs of the Tampa-area group Poison Dart.

Kevin Jordache Webster, 29, of 2681 Salters Court, Deltona, who was an associate of Poison Dart, also died at the scene.

Detectives think the shooting occurred over an argument between the three men and someone else, but getting information from the nearly 300 people who were at the club has been difficult, Judd said.

"This is a brutal murder scene," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Someone knows the name of who did this and we need that name."

Deputies received a call at 2:40 a.m. reporting a disturbance at the bar at 723 New Hope Street. But the shooting happened before deputies arrived, officials said.

Judd said the shooting doesn't appear to be random.

As shots rang out in the early morning, between 200 and 300 people flooded into the streets.

"We were standing over there by the concrete when we heard 'boom, boom, boom' inside," said Walter Maxwell, who cooks barbecue outside the dance club. "And then we saw all the people running out and screaming."

In all of the confusion of the people, Maxwell said, he wasn't able to see a shooter. But he did see a few suspicious people that got into a car that peeled out of the small neighborhood.

"This is horrible," he said. "It has shocked everybody. I was surprised to hear someone got in there with a gun."

The shooting may be related to another incident that occurred at the bar between May 9 and May 10, the Sheriff's Office said.

The agency is seeking two people they want to talk to in the investigation. The men were seen running from the bar, and they possibly left the area in a newer model white BMW 4-door sedan, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The first subject is described as black, 23 to 30 years old, 6 feet to 6 feet two inches tall, and about 200 to 225 pounds, with a "short braid" hairstyle. He was wearing black dress slacks, a black short sleeve button-up shirt and square toe loafers.

The second subject is described as black, 23 to 30 years old, five feet five inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 150 to 170 pounds, also with a "short braid" hairstyle. He was wearing blue jeans and a beige jacket with a hooded shirt.

Maxwell said the two Poison Dart members had been performing at the club for about the past six or seven months, playing hip-hop and reggae music, and were well-liked by the audience.

"They were good DJs," he said in his native Jamaican accent. "Everybody wanted to hear them."

The Thunderbird Inn, which has been open for about 50 years, has its own colorful history in a neighborhood know by law enforcement for its violence.

New Hope Street was originally called Hobbs Lane, until the city renamed it and blocked off its entrance to Hobbs Road, Judd said, in the hopes of revitalizing the area.

But it didn't work and crime persisted.

When Judd oversaw the narcotics division of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the area was well known to undercover detectives, who would regularly make drug busts outside the bar, he said.

"This isn't the first time blood has been shed here," he said.

In recent years, though, criminal activity has been minimal, according to Sheriff's Office statistics. And new policies by the club's owner, Jimmie Young, have also helped. Before a person enters, bouncers use wand metal detectors and pat down patrons to search for weapons.

"The owner does a pretty good job of policing it himself," Judd said. "You really don't want law enforcement having to police your area. That's bad for business."
Detectives are still searching for the suspect or suspects involved in the shooting. If anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-226-TIPS (8477)

"We want justice," Maxwell said. "We can't have these people running around."