Official Police Statement on the Fight and Shooting Outside Aurum Lounge

The following is an official APD narrative of events from late Saturday night in which a fight broke out between a group of guys outside Aurum Lounge.  A resident captured video of the fight and a subsequent shooting as the group was leaving the club.  The narrative has not been edited by Midtown Patch.

On 12-21-2013 at approximately 3am, I Officer Eastridge was working a city approved extra job at 108 8th Street which is Aurum Lounge. While working there, a small argument broke out in the club when the club was about to close. I helped security escort all parties involved out of the building. After a few moments, I went back inside the entrance. At that point another bouncer told me that the parties started arguing outside of the building. I then went outside just to help disperse the crowd and have everyone start heading home.

One male(Xavier Darity) was very hostile. At one point he told me that he doesn't care about my badge and would still "whoop my ass". I continued to try and calm the male down telling him to just go home with the ladies he came to the club with, while I was guiding him towards the parking lot. Once the male got to the parking lot, the ladies he came with escorted him to his car and at that point he got into the vehicle. I returned to the club since the primary aggressor was now on his way out.

Within a few minutes of me stepping back into the club, a bunch of people ran inside and told me that there were some gunshots at the bank which is the parking lot that Xavier was in. I advised Zone 5 of the gunshots and proceeded to head down to the parking lot. When I got to the parking lot Xavier was running his mouth to a few other males so I went to calm him down, again. When I went to talk to him, he balled up his fist and attempted to punch another male. I grabbed the male that he attempted to punch, put him on the ground and told him not to move. I then approached Xavier and held him up against his car and told him to calm down or he was going to jail. He then pushed me off of him and attempted to walk to the driver side of his car. Zone 5 Units were now on scene.

When he went to get into his car, I pushed him into the door jam of the vehicle and placed handcuffs on the male, immediately double locking the handcuffs. Although, I did notice that the handcuffs were tight, but due to Xavier's size(approximately 6'6" 300+pounds). After Xavier was placed in the back of the patrol car, he admitted to being intoxicated and regrets sticking around too long. The odor of alcoholic beverage was quite prevalent when speaking with him.

One of the Zone 5 officers then transported the male to Atlanta City Jail without any further incident. Xavier Darity was charged with City Ordinance 10-9(4), Disorderly Under The Influence. Xavier's car was released to his brother in the green sweater.
--- Atlanta Police Department Zone 6 FIT Team Ofc. G. Eastridge 5448x