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Palatka Daily News file photo. Police investigate a shooting outside Vick’s Supper Club last weekend.
Local authorities investigating a Palatka shooting outside a nightclub that left two dead and three injured over the weekend are seeking eyewitnesses' help.
In a social media post late Friday, the Palatka Police Department elaborated more on the circumstances surrounding the Sept. 3 incident.
The incident that occurred around 11:44 p.m. at Vick’s Supper Club resulted in the deaths of two Palatka men – 26-year-old Luther Ward and 32-year-old Dontae Diaz, according to the Palatka Police Department.
The agency is still investigating the incident but are asking anyone who witnessed the events on Sept. 3 to come forward. Any witnesses’ identities can remain anonymous, the police department stated.
The agency said officers have learned from witnesses that Diaz became involved in an argument with two individuals at the club, left, and then returned a few minutes later.
Diaz reportedly approached one of the individuals and struck the individual in the head with a blunt object. The police department is not releasing the name of the person struck in the head at this time.
After the person was struck in the head, the police department reported Diaz and Ward exchanged gunfire, which ultimately resulted in both of their deaths.
“During this exchange of gunfire, two patrons who were not involved in the incident were struck by stray bullets,” the police department said in its post.
The names of the people who were hit by the bullets are also not being released at this time.
“Currently there is no evidence to suggest that there were any additional shooters,” the agency said.
Anyone who can provide information to the police department should contact Detective Sgt. Colten Lee at 386-329-0115, ext. 518, or call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477.