Nightclub rivalry led to drive-by shooting that wounded 6 people, Florida cops learn

A 2 a.m. drive-by shooting that left six people wounded at a Florida lounge was prompted by a nightclub rivalry, Orange County detectives have learned.

It happened Oct. 29 during a show at the Toxic Lounge in Orlando, and all six victims survived, officials said.

The motive was revealed when Orange County detectives arrested Cristian Burgos, who “was connected to a rival nightclub that was outbid by Toxic Lounge to host a rapper from Puerto Rico.”

Burgos, 25, faces six counts of attempted murder, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said during a May 30 news conference.

The suspect faces an additional charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling in connection with a drive-by shooting later that morning at the Euphoria Hookah Lounge in Orlando, officials said.

“Numerous tips” led to detectives to suspect Burgos, who was already in the Seminole County Jail on federal weapons charges,officials said. Burgos also faces a homicide charge in connection with an attempted robbery in Kissimmee, officials said.

The Oct. 29 shooting centered on competition over which venue would host a show by rapper Yovngchimi, Det. Robert Gautam said.

Toxic Lounge came out on top, and Yovngchimi was set to perform the night of the shooting, he said.

The name of the other lounge was not released.

Investigators say the drive-by shooting at the Euphoria Hookah Lounge occurred because it was hosting an after party for the Yovngchimi show, officials said. No one was hit by gunfire at the Euphoria Hookah Lounge.

Investigators learned Burgos could be placed at the scene of both shootings, officials said. He was also found in possession of an AR-15-style rifle that was used in the Toxic Lounge drive-by shootings, the sheriff’s office said.

The wounded at Toxic Lounge included a woman who was struck in the head, officials said.

“Six people were struck by gunfire at the Toxic nightclub, and apparently there were a lot more people there, so we could have had multiple killings. ... The injuries were serious,” Mina said.

“It’s extremely reckless, extremely dangerous and evil to shoot a weapon like an AR-15 into a crowd or into a nightclub like that.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Nightclub rivalry led to drive-by shooting that wounded 6 people, Florida cops learn."