UPDATED Friday May 11, 2012 --- 4:45 p.m.
Posted By: Barclay Pollak

The owner and business may be different but the problems appear to be the same. 6718 Odana Road has been plagued by violence in the past. For years it sat vacant. Now its new tenants are facing some old issues.

Early Friday morning police say 5-to-7 shots were fired in Little Manhattan's parking lot. Initially a 23-year-old woman was taken to the hospital with a gun shot wound to the leg. A few hours later a 27-year-old man showed up at a Janesville hospital with a similar injury.

Joel DeSpain with the Madison Police Department says, " We believe he was likely shot during the same incident although he's not being forthcoming as to what happened to him. "

This morning's incident isn't the first in the property's very long and not-so-positive history.

District 19 Alder Mark Clear says, " Fights, shootings, disturbances of various kinds. A couple of months ago there was a disturbance that spilled out into the parking lot and then ended up at a couple of other different establishments and then moved into a neighborhood. "

In February of this year the city gave Little Manhattan a liquor license.
The building had been vacant since 2007. According to Clear its last occupant, a restaurant called Tres Amigos, experienced similar problems.

Alder Clear says, " I hate to look at a particular location as being cursed but the track record is not good. "

Prior to the business getting its permit Clear sent a letter to the Alcohol License Review Committee. In it he "cautiously" lent his support and said he's "hopeful" the new business will break the cycle and be successful.

After today's early morning shooting he says if Little Manhattan closes he may not support another business there.

Little Manhattan's license expires at the end of June and the city may not renew it. We did try to contact Little Manhattan's owner but our calls have not been returned.

We have learned Little Manhattan has voluntarily closed for the weekend.

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UPDATED Friday, May 11, 2012 --- 12:05 p.m.

UPDATE from the Madison Police Department:

Madison police are investigating a shooting that occurred early this morning at 6718 Odana Rd (Little Manhattan Billiards). Officers encountered one victim with a gunshot wound to her leg and bullet holes to the exterior wall of the building.

Several hours after the shooting, a 27-year-old Madison man showed up at a Janesville hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg.

He was not forthcoming about the injury, but West District detectives believe he was also likely wounded during the Odana Rd. weapons offense.

Witness statements indicate one man fired between five and seven shots.

MPD investigators located evidence in the parking lot, including numerous shell casings that were in-between two parked vehicles.

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Posted: Friday, May 11, 2012 -- 4:00 a.m.

From the Madison Police Department:

Incident Date:
05/11/2012 - 12:30 AM

Address:
6718 Odana Rd (Little Manhattan Billiards)

Suspect(s):
black male, wearing light blue/white shirt

Victim:
23 yr old female, gunshot wound to leg, non-life-threatening

Details:
Officers responded to shots fired outside in the parking lot of Little Manhattan Billiards.

Officers encountered one victim with a gunshot wound to her leg and bullet holes to the exterior wall of the building.

The suspect had fled the area with two other black males in a silver Chevy Lumina.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated and eventually released.

The investigation continues.