Andre Lowe, 19, Had Been At 21+ Empire Club In Hollywood Before His Murder Outside

By Dennis Romero Wed., Jan. 23 2013 at 8:08 AM

Andre Lowe / Courtesy Lowe family

The 19-year-old gunned down outside the Empire Club in Hollywood two weekends ago in violence caught on tape had been inside the venue despite its 21-and-older policy, police tell the Weekly.

Both the victim, Andre Lowe, and the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Robert Earl Thomas, are believed to have been inside the club before violence erupted outside Jan. 13 after 2 a.m., detectives said.

According to the LAPD ...

... it's not clear if Lowe had been drinking.

But a detective told us, in terms of his age and the club's 21-and-up door rule, "you do the math."

We understand the club does card patrons and puts them through a security check that includes a wand.

Courtesy Lowe family.

Despite the initial reports from police that fighting inside the club had spilled outside, detectives now say that there was no fighting inside the venue that they know of.

Rather, they say, there was "tension" and "beef" inside that exploded outside. A detective told us:

What happened inside precipitated what happened outside.

Thomas, who police say is a Carver Park Compton Crips member, was arrested in Las Vegas a week ago in connection with the shooting and was awaiting extradition.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

club, Hollywood, LAPD, murder

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1 Like

It's time to bring back the United States Draft to get these low life, useless gang members off the streets. Forget about terrorism abroad, there is domestic gang terrorism in neighborhoods every where.

Alexandria Ramirez

don't be naive, people who are underage go to 21+ places ALL THE TIME. It's called having a fake ID

Gabriel Butler

Yes. Why address the problem of gun violence when we can talk about the scourge of underage drinking.

Aldo Gonzalez

damn..

Liliana Vasquez-Duran

Here it is folks L.A is run by gangs ..oh no this is not just in gangaster rap and it isn't freaking Snoop Dog. You run into who Snoop dog was back in the day and his buddies you get same results. BTW the gangs in L.A are making a come back not sure if its connected.to cuts in social services and the economy. Let me tell you prepare for a bloody Summer L.A 1988 is prime for a sequel. Cover that L.A Weekly

Joshua Hackney

I wondered that years ago when Lohan kept getting busted leaving bars and clubs.. It's Hollywood, no one gives a shit

Victor Revilla

I would go bar hopping at 16 in Hollywood. They're not that strict. LAPD is usually seconds away from all venues in hollywood. What was their response call? In the video I sure saw a couple minutes of fighting.

Michelle Klein-Hass

Yeah, stick a fork in this venue, it's done.

Stacie Robinson

hmm. maybe he had a FAKE id. IJS...still sad! When gang-bangers start showing up you know its time to shut a venue down.

Heidi Lutz

I work at a club and you wouldn't believe how many under age people try to get in with fake IDs. It is located near some colleges. But still, whoever sells fake IDs around here must be making bank.

Shane L Beers

It'a a sh!tty club, 1 star Yelp reviews and a very subpar website, put it together. That's why kids shouldn't play with adults in a place like that. Sad to say if the kid wasn't allowed to enter, he may still be alive. Too many youngins' try to talk smack to people who back it up, he paid for it ultimately.

Romy Orantes

It's the nastiest 'club' ever, it brings the dirtiest scummiest jerks to what is a pretty sweet spot along the corridor. Go back to YOUR OWN HOOD and get out of ours!

badgyrl59

For your info... The victim was not gang-relaed before you start to talk shit, know the facts. Hollywood is nasty and scummy so if you are a product of, I wouldn't be so quick to speak up on HOODS.