"Everything broke loose:" Man taken to jail after shooting inside Racine bar hours into new year

RACINE -- A New Year's celebration ended abruptly at a bar here early Monday morning. Racine police said they are investigating a shooting incident that happened at Curmudgeon's bar located on Rapids Drive near Green Bay Road shortly around 1:50 a.m.

Jeff Dandeneau

"It was very busy. Everyone was enjoying the 2018 New Year's, ringing in the new year, and everything broke loose," Jeff Dandeneau, stepbrother of the bar's owner said.

Police said a man suffered a gunshot wound and was taken All Saints Hospital in Racine. Police said the circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation.

"I was actually outside the door and then when I came back in, the gentleman was on the ground and people were assisting him -- the security guards and bouncers," Dandeneau said.

When a reporter asked whether the shooting was self-inflicted, or committed by a suspect, Lt. Martin Pavilonis only said the circumstances were still under investigation. As of late Monday afternoon, police said there was nothing new to release. Pavilonis added that after the victim was treated at the hospital, he was released into police custody and then taken to the Racine County Jail on an outstanding warrant.

Curmudgeon's bar

On Monday afternoon, a woman unlocked the door to the bar and went inside, locking the door behind her, and not answering knocks from FOX6 News. A man who said he owns the building arrived later and said he was unaware of the shooting until a reporter asked him about it.

Meanwhile, Dandeneau said he's unaware of any dispute leading up tot he shooting.

"It was a nice, decent crowd," he said.

Curmudgeon's bar

No arrests have been made. Dandeneau said the bar has surveillance cameras and turned the footage over to police, adding he had not seen the video himself.