Club license in jeopardy after fatal Block stabbing

According to charging documents, a fight began inside Norma Jean's about 1:50 a.m. Friday and spilled outside between the club and the neighboring Glass Slipper.

Shontey Lane, 22, was arguing with a group of women that included 27-year-old Takira Leray Johnson-Bey. Lane is accused of stabbing Johnson-Bey in the abdomen. She was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m. at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Police said staff monitoring crime cameras watched the attack as it occurred and sent officers to the victim and a fleeing suspect. A second woman was hospitalized with injuries described yesterday as critical.

Ireland said that only the victim was an employee of his club. He said he had been told that Johnson-Bey was leaving work when she observed an argument and came back toward the club to see what was going on.

Police, however, maintain that all three women were employees of the club and that the incident began inside.

Ireland said he was assisting Johnson-Bey's family with her funeral. "It's a shame that things happen like that," Ireland said. "I'm not happy with it, and it's very upsetting."