Manager of The Spot, where 15 shot, arrested

Students: Trevon Simmons, 15, target of Sunday's shooting

MIAMI – The manager of a Miami nightclub where 15 people were shot Sunday morning was arrested Monday, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Miami police said Tuesday that The Spot was registered as a business, not a nightclub.

Agents with the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco conducted an inspection of the business and found three bottles of liquor behind the bar, even though the location was only licensed to sell beer and wine.

As a result, manager Tiffany Johnson, 31, was charged with illegally possessing alcohol on the night of the mass shooting.

Club owners were also cited for several safety code violations during the impromptu inspection.

Johnson founded her own catering and events planning company several years ago. She was throwing a teen party late Saturday night into Sunday when 15 people were shot.

The victims, mostly teens, were between the ages of 11-25 years old.

Johnson, who is said to have thrown parties before at The Spot restaurant and bar, founded J & Co. Catering.

A website tied to the business promotes party and event planning, along with menus for catered services. However, state records show the business has been listed "inactive" since September 2013. An address for the company at 8255 West Sunrise Blvd. in Plantation is nothing more than a P.O. box at a mail supply center.

Local 10 tried to speak with Johnson at her home in Sunrise, but a woman refused to open the front door.

"We don't want to talk about it," said a female's voice through the door of the one-story home. "No comment."

Johnson has been in trouble with the law before, after being arrested in 2011 for a traffic infraction in Miami-Dade County.

In Broward County, Johnson has been cited for speeding, having expired tags and driving on a suspended license twice in recent years. She is also scheduled to appear in court Thursday for driving with a suspended license citation.

Meanwhile, students at Norland High School told Local 10 News that Trevon Simmons, 15, was the intended target of the shooting. Simmons was shot multiple times at The Spot near Northwest 64th Street and Seventh Avenue.

"A lot of kids don't like the child that was involved," said a Norland student's mother, Shondelle Harry. "Maybe it was some disagreement or someone not liking him. I don't really know."

Trevon Simmons, 15, was among those shot at The Spot in Miami.

"Back in my days we were raised with more respect, integrity and dignity," said another parent, Tavares Pratt. "Nowadays you wouldn't be surprised with kids in the club packing guns."

As of Monday, four victims remained at Jackson Memorial Hospital -- one of them in critical condition.

Police have not made any arrests in connection with the shooting.

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About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.