Police ID Alleged Gunman in Strip Club Shooting

Two people were hospitalized after a shooting at a strip club in Horsham, Pa.

Police say a gunman, identified as 55-year-old Joseph Thiers of Warrington, Pa., opened fire inside the Double Visions Lounge on the 1100 block of Easton Road Saturday night.

According to a witness, Thiers entered through the back of the lounge after another person let him in. The witness also says there were about 20 people inside at the time.

Thiers then walked towards the bartender and shot him in the upper part of the body, according to the witness.

"I just saw the guy point a gun and I heard a pop sound," said Jerritt Boyer. "He kind of blended in with the crowd. If you didn't see the gun you wouldn't know. People around him weren't running away. They were kind of like, in shock." 

A witness told the Intelligencer that one other person was struck after Thiers fired another shot while backing out of the door.

Police say Thiers then fled the scene in his vehicle and led officers on a pursuit into Warrington Township. Police say the chase ended on the 2900 block of Warwick Road where Thiers allegedly began to open fire on the officers.

Police were then able to apprehend and arrest Thiers. No officers were injured.

The shooting victims, Phil Catagnus III and Jason Catagnus, are both in critical but stable condition.

Thiers was arraigned and remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $2.5 million bail. A witness told the Intelligencer that Thiers was involved in an altercation with employees at Double Visions earlier in the week.

Despite the recent events, customers at Double Visions say the lounge is normally safe.

"It's like a corner bar," Boyer said. "But with dancers. It's a really nice place which is why you would never expect something like that. They don't even pat people down."

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