DATE: Saturday, March 1, 1997               TAG: 9703010273

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   39 lines

ABC INVESTIGATES SHOWCASE CLUB AFTER 2 INCIDENTS

Officials from the state's liquor control board are investigating the Showcase nightclub following reports of gunfire and assaults at the club last weekend.

``We're investigating it,'' said Robert Chapman, a spokesman for the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. ``There's no clear evidence that we're going to file charges or not file charges.''

According to police, as patrons were leaving the club Sunday morning, several shots were fired in the parking lot. There were no reported injuries and no arrests. The club is located at 2850 Airline Blvd.

In an unrelated incident at the club, two women reported being assaulted by a man.

A 21-year-old woman said she was hit in the mouth by a suspect. The other woman, 20, said she was hit above her eye when she stepped between the first woman and the suspect.

The man accused of the assaults, 24-year-old Jemarr Dione Rivers, of the 1300 block of Barbour Drive, faces two charges of assault. He had not been taken into police custody Friday afternoon.

In December, an ABC hearings officer revoked the club's license after it was charged with several violations, including maintaining a noisy or disorderly establishment, admitting people under 21 and, on one occasion, admitting more than 1,000 people.

The club's president and general manager, Bob Hucks, is appealing the decision.

An appeal is reviewed by a three-member panel of officials from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. If they uphold the hearing officer's decision to revoke the club's license, the club can file an appeal in Circuit Court.

The appeal hearing, which was scheduled for Tuesday, has been continued. A new date has not been set. KEYWORDS: SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

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