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“Somebody failed:” Family of man killed at local bar calls for legislation requiring metal detectors

By Melonie Holt, WFTV.com
By Melonie Holt, WFTV.com

MELBOURNE, Fla. — The family of a Palm Bay man killed in a downtown Melbourne shooting is seeking justice.

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35-year-old Alain Noel’s relatives say he was a completely innocent bystander in the shooting that took his life last week.

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It happened just after 1 a.m. Sunday at Off the Traxx Sports Bar and Grill on East New Haven Avenue.

Responding officers arrived to find Noel unconscious in the bar. He was taken to the hospital and later died.

A female bar employee was also injured in the shooting and is expected to recover.

Off the Traxx has said it’s fully cooperating with authorities as they review the incident at the business.

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 01:10 a.m., Melbourne Police Officers responded to Off the Traxx in regards to a shooting, which occurred inside the business. Upon their arrival, two victims were located. A male was unconscious and medical aid was immediately administered. He was transported to HRMC where he was declared deceased by hospital staff. A female employee received a non-life-threatening injury and was also taken to HRMC and she is expected to recover. At the time of the shootings, Off the Traxx was reported to be near capacity at approximately 350 patrons. The Criminal Investigations Unit is actively investigating this case. At this time the identity of the suspect(s) is unknown and the Melbourne Police Department is requesting the assistance of anyone who witnessed this shooting to call 321-608-6450 to provide information.

Posted by Melbourne Police Department on Sunday, March 6, 2022

So far, no arrests have been made, and Noel’s family says they’re devastated.

“It’s hard for me and my parents…to hear them cry, to hear them mourn the way they do, to put clothes on my brother to put him in the casket. I didn’t expect this,” Noel’s sister Samantha Noel said.

Noel’s family and their attorney are speaking out for the first time since the March 6th shooting

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They say he simply went out that night to take a break, but never made it home.

“Alain was not involved in a fight. He was a completely innocent bystander,” family attorney Daniel Martinez said. “There’s nothing he did to contribute to his death, nothing whatsoever.”

Noel’s family said what he did do was run a family-owned tax preparation business, and take care of his mother.

He was also a card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association with a concealed weapons license.

His sister Samantha says he didn’t bring his gun to the bar where he was shot.

“His gun was in his car that night because he knows you’re not allowed to take weapons into these places,” Samantha Noel said. “Somebody failed to do their job that night.”

Now, Noel’s family wants his killer in custody, but they say that’s not enough.

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“We’re going to propose to our elected officials Alain’s Law,” Martinez said. “I don’t care if I have to write it myself. Businesses should be required, particularly if you serve alcohol..to have metal detectors.”

Noel’s family also hasn’t ruled out a lawsuit. They’ve planned a candlelight vigil celebrating his life to take place Sunday at 6 p.m. near Off the Traxx.

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