Neighboring Business Fed Up Over Night Club Violence - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

A Waco man who was stabbed to death after an argument outside a nightclub, has now been identified. Anthony Levell Degrate, 24, was stabbed several times and was pronounced dead at a Waco hospital.

It all started at Club Alazan, a night spot with a history of violence. Waco Police have responded to several incidents there, ranging from assaults to stabbings, and now murder. But a nearby business owner says this latest one is the last straw.

Danny Marmolejo has worked at "Kwik Tire" for 8 years. The business is right next door to Club Alazan. "They're very well known for stabbings and shootings and fighting and what not, so it's just a very common thing and you know it don't surprise us none," says Marmolejo.

What doesn't surprise him is Sunday's fatal stabbing. It started with an argument between 2 groups of people in the club's parking lot. It eventually moved to a stop light on the access road.  That's where the argument got physical. Degrate was fatally stabbed several times in the chest by a Hispanic man, who took off.

In the last year alone, officers have responded to 17 assaults and 16 other call involving drugs and weapons on the property and even wanted individuals. "We know we've worked stabbings there, we've worked aggravate assaults. There's a problem there," says Patrick Swanton with the Waco Police Department.

But for "Kwik Tire", it doesn't stop there. They've installed security cameras after 4 early-morning break-ins. "I don't know if I would have bought this location if I had known that was going to take place . If I have to come here late on the evenings, you bet I'm worried about it," says Eddie Pribyl, the owner of Kwik Tire.

 Club Alazan plans to hire more security guards to monitor their parking lots, but to the guys at "Kwik Tire", the threat is still there. "I mean would you like that in your neighborhood? You answered yourself," says Pribyl.

Waco police have not made any arrests, but they are trying to figure out how to approach the issues at Club Alazan. That could include getting the TABC and other agencies involved.  

Reporter: Tania Ortega

Photographer: Chris Buford