OBSERVER File Photo The new owner of Venue 31, located at 31 N. Main St., said he had no knowledge, and he doesn’t condone or support the alleged assault which took place Feb. 19 outside of his business establishment.

On the heels of a guest at the United Christian Advocacy Network’s City Mission getting pistol whipped to the point of hospitalization last week, the owner of the building where the alleged assault took place says he had no knowledge of the assault taking place.

As previously reported in The Post-Journal, one person was taken to UPMC Chautauqua after allegedly being beaten with a pistol and two other UCAN guests had firearms drawn on them.

However, the new owner of Venue 31 says the assault allegedly happened outside of the property he now owns, and he had no knowledge of what transpired outside of his establishment, until after the police showed up.

“I had no idea anything happened,” said Odessin McBride, the new property owner. “I don’t support or condone this type of behavior, and I won’t tolerate it at any of my properties or businesses.”

McBride said that he did know that some of Venue 31 guests did launch balloons as part of a celebration of life event but had no knowledge of the alleged shooting of firearms in the air or the assault which took place outside of his establishment.

“I’m trying to run a business,” he said. “I’ve placed hour restrictions on rental parties, and I am committed to making sure we rent only to reputable clients.”

Echoing McBride’s statements, party attendee Shawntae Clifton wrote in a private message on Facebook, “We would never do or condone something in that nature (assault.) We had no idea what occurred until we got told the police were there in which we thought it was related to loud music. We just want to mourn in peace at this point. We do send our prayers to the injured man and hope for a speedy recovery. We’re sorry he had to be a victim of such a disturbing act of violence. No one deserves that at all, and it does break our hearts.”

Venue 31 is located at 31 N. Main St. at Main and First streets in the former Carlson Jewelers building.