BET Awards says clubs where violence erupted not sanctioned events

The Black Entertainment Television Awards has firmly distanced itself from the violence at two parties, one in which a person was killed and four others injured.

BET officials said neither gathering was affiliated with Sunday’s ceremony.

One person was killed and four others injured in East Hollywood after a man opened fire at one of the overnight parties early Sunday. At another venue, someone was stabbed.

“The two isolated incidents over the weekend occurred at locations with events that were unauthorized and unaffiliated with the BET Awards,” according to a statement provided by publicist Shawn Purdy.

“Security remains the number one priority for all official BET events and the network and all organizers will continue to maintain a safe environment for all planned activities.”

The assailant in the fatal attack was a lone gunman who is still at large, said Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department.

A gunman fired several rounds at 5:17 a.m., at Monalizza, a restaurant and banquet hall in the 1100 block of North Vermont Avenue, Madison said. Ambulances transported three victims to a local hospital, where one died. Two others arranged their own hospital transportation.

Authorities have not released information about the victims.

The gathering “was like an after-party even though the awards are tonight,” Madison said. “There were a couple of parties last night and probably there will be more after the awards tonight.”

He similarly categorized a party at Lure, a club in Hollywood. There, either just outside or inside the establishment, a man in his 30s was stabbed in the stomach. He was in stable condition at a local hospital.

Police have made no arrests.

The 14^th BET Awards, hosted by Chris Rock, got underway at 5 p.m. at the Nokia Theatre.

Twitter: @howardblume