Mass. man pleads not guilty in strip club shooting spree that killed 1, hurt 4

Man pleads not guilty in Mass. strip club shooting

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Authorities say a shooting spree that killed one person and wounded four others in a Massachusetts strip club appears to be gang related.

Marcus Blanton pleaded not guilty Monday in Springfield to charges including murder and assault with intent to murder.

Authorities say the 24-year-old Blanton opened fire with a semiautomatic pistol near the bathrooms of Club 418 around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

One victim, 23-year-old Aaron Waldon of Springfield, later died. The four other people who were shot — including a female stripper and a female bartender — are expected to recover.

Sgt. John Delaney says Blanton was himself a shooting victim in March but did not cooperate with police.