Man found with gun near River North nightclub shooting is “excluded as the shooter,” prosecutors say

Qudre Mitchell | CPD

A Michigan man who was arrested with a gun minutes after a River North nightclub employee was shot Friday night has been “excluded as the shooter at this time,” a prosecutor said while announcing weapons charges against him.

Qudre Mitchell, 30, is instead charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. A judge on Sunday said he could return to Michigan after he posts a $2,000 deposit toward his bail.

Police said a 46-year-old man was shot by a bar-goer who opened fire on nightclub security guards after being denied entry to a club on the 300 block of West Erie around 11:35 p.m. Friday.

Some witnesses told officers that Mitchell, who was standing on a nearby side street, might be the shooter, prosecutors said. Video provided to CWBChicago shows a large group of police officers closing in on Mitchell:

Cops who approached Mitchell allegedly saw a large bulge in his right hip and lifted his shirt to discover a loaded 9-millimeter handgun with a laser sight and an extended magazine in his waistband.

After the shooting, CPD said in a media statement that officers took the shooter into custody. But prosecutors on Sunday said Mitchell is not believed to be responsible for the shooting.

Mitchell was once charged with carrying a concealed weapon in Michigan, but prosecutors said they did not know the outcome of the case.

Assistant Public Defender Courtney Smallwood said Mitchell works as a painter and lives with his girlfriend and two children, ages 2 and 7.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com