By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
East St. Louis, Ill – East St. Louis mayor Alvin Parks has temporarily ordered bars and liquor stores in his city to stop selling at 1am following two weekend killings.
Twenty-nine-year-old Terrell Seay of East St. Louis was killed after a fight outside one club A 23-year-old from Bethalto, Anthony Rice, was run over and killed outside another night club.
Parks, who is also the city's liquor commissioner, has suspended the liquor licenses of both clubs. He will meet Wednesday with the owners of bars, clubs and liquor stores to discuss safety and hours, but called violence outside the clubs uncommon.
In March, a group of law enforcement agencies and community action agencies asked Parks to order earlier closing hours, citing violence and concerns about club-goers who cross the river after bars in St. Louis close. Parks did not give into their demands, pointing to the revenue the late-hours clubs generate