Victim in shooting at Myrtle Beach strip joint that led to prostitution bust sues club
The man shot at a Myrtle Beach strip joint - a shooting that sparked an investigation into prostitution allegations at the club - sued the establishment.
Diminique Bellamy filed suit against David Bean, Derrier’s Gentleman’s Club and Seaboard Ventures, Inc. in Horry County court this week. Bean is the club’s owner.
On New Year’s Eve 2019, Bellamy was at the Seaboard Street club around 1:30 a.m. when he was shot several times, according to the lawsuit. It was later determined he was shot five times in the arm, side and abdomen. Bellamy went to the hospital and remained there for three days.
Bellamy says the club failed to take precautions to warn patrons of the dangers stemming from past criminal activity at the club. The business also failed to provide a safe environment for the customers. The lawsuit asks for an unspecified amount of money.
The shooting led Myrtle Beach police to investigate the club where they documented more than 200 acts of prostitution. In total, police filed more than 600 warrants as part of the prostitution case. Police raided the club on Feb. 21 and described the business as acting as a “brothel.”
Police charged eight people in connection to the investigation:
Derrier’s Gentleman’s Club appeared to be closed in the weeks after the bust and before coronavirus restrictions on night clubs.
