‘The Dream’ faces more scrutiny from Beer Board after January shootout

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A Chattanooga nightclub continues to be in hot water after a pair of shootings within the past four months.

The Dream on Glass Street in Avondale is facing its second round of sanctions due to these shooting incidents.

A security guard for “The Dream” nightclub shooting back at a gunman with an assault rifle.

Last month, they were in front of the Chattanooga Beer Board for a December shooting within the club.

On Thursday, they were back in front of that same board for a separate shooting that occurred in January.

The trouble began on the night of January 26th with an altercation inside of the club.

The club’s owner and founder, Yasmin Springs, described, “It wasn’t an actual fight. It was like a little scuffle, they were just going back and forth.”

He was pressed further by city attorney Kathryn McDougal who asked, “Was it psychical?’

Springs elaborated, “It was like pushing each other, arguing…”

McDougal responded, “So it was psychical?”, to which Springs admitted it was.

That fight led up to a man jumping out of a gray vehicle across the street from the club.

He ran over to a fence line, and started shooting towards the club as patrons were leaving.

One of the security guards grabbed an assault rifle in response and began firing back at the suspect, striking him.

The Dream’s lead security guard, Josephus Reed, said, “He knew what his target was, he knew what he was going to do, he’s a gang member, there’s no secret about that.”

During the hearing, Reed faced criticism for why his guards (of which the club employs 20 guards, and had 10 on duty that night) had assault weapons when they already were carrying handguns.

Reed described, “These young guys have guns what are called switches. If they have a 100 round clip, 100 bullets will release in six seconds. With a handgun, there’s no way in the world you can stand up to that if you’re trying to protect customers.”

Reed said during this hearing that he is not licensed to carry while serving as a security guard, and is not armed while working.

He said that the guard who used the assault rifle carries it for “extra protection”, which prompted concern from the Beer Board on if the club was anticipating violence.

Springs said that after the December incident where their metal detectors were down, they had since replaced them and they were in use during the January shooting.

He said that anyone who brings a firearm or flashes gang signs within the club faces a lifetime ban from the establishment.

Questions about Reed’s past and licensing were brought up as well.

Back in 2023, Reed pleaded guilty to impersonating a licensed official after getting into an altercation with a Brainerd High School student.

McDougal asked Reed, “Did you plead guilty to impersonating a licensed security officer back in 2023?”

Reed responded, “What does that have to do with this? But yes I did. I ran security for Brainerd High School. I was hired by the principal over there to keep guns out of her school, which I was doing at that time. Yes ma’am.”

The lack of reporting the incident by the club to police also came up.

Staff had been criticized in the past for not cooperating with police during the December incident.

Sgt. Jason Wood of the Chattanooga Police Department said, “The concern was that no one from the bar had actually called this in for an hour after the fact, that it happened.”

The Dream representatives defended their club’s safety.

Reed said, “Nobody wants to get shot by somebody shooting reckless like that, therefore, security stood on business by protecting the establishment and our customers.”

The attorney who heard the case is recommending a seven day suspension of the club’s beer license for this incident.

They had previously received a five day suspension for the December shooting.