Suspect turns herself in after fatal shooting of woman in downtown Minneapolis strip club

Minneapolis police say a suspect turned herself in about 9 a.m. Saturday after a fatal overnight shooting in a downtown Minneapolis strip club.

Officers were called about 1:10 a.m. to Augies Cabaret, at 424 Hennepin Av. S., in the heart of downtown, on a report of a shooting. A woman, later identified by friends and family as LaKisha Neal, of north Minneapolis, was found fatally wounded inside, police said.

"This does not appear to be a random incident," a statement from police said, adding that numerous witnesses were interviewed and evidence had been collected. The suspect remains in custody.
Angela Avent, a childhood friend of Neal's, decided to coordinate a rally in front of the club when she heard the news.

"I told her mom I was going to take a stand and make sure her death isn't in vain," said Avent, who was asking family and friends to gather at 7 p.m. on Saturday for a vigil in front of Augies.

Neal was the mother of a teenage daughter and worked as a personal care assistant for the disabled and elderly, Avent said.

Augies owner Brian Michael couldn't immediately be reached for comment, but an employee said a sign was hung on the door telling customers the club would remain closed Saturday night.

Augies has a metal detector, along with high-definition security cameras, according to a Star Tribune story earlier this year, written after a shooting at 400 Soundbar in August.

In March 2013, a patron was shot in the leg at Augies as he left the restroom.

In another downtown incident Friday night, a Minneapolis woman was struck by a motor vehicle intentionally, witnesses say. The 26-year-old woman remains in a coma.