The deadly shootings at the City Grill restaurant two weeks ago were not the first time this year that someone has been killed outside a privately promoted Buffalo party attracting a large number of gangsters.

A 26-year-old Buffalo man was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Military Road tavern after a similar party in February, according to Buffalo Police and other law enforcement officials.

And law enforcement officials said they are investigating about a half-dozen other shootings and stabbings that occurred within the past year at other establishments that allowed private promoters to hold parties attracting gang members and associates.

"Definitely, this is something we are concerned about," Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III told The Buffalo News. "If you've got parties that are resulting in stabbings and shootings, it becomes a public safety issue."

Police also are concerned.

"It's a very dangerous mix when you have gangsters, a lot of drinking and people showing up who have grudges against each other from things that have happened in the past," said one police officer who is familiar with the bashes.

Police said a large number of gang associates -- including dangerous individuals from rival gangs -- were present two weeks ago at a privately promoted party at City Grill on Main Street. After an argument erupted, Riccardo M. McCray got a gun and started shooting, police allege. Four people were killed and four others wounded.

McCray is associated with a violent drug group known as the East Ferry Gang, and one of his street nicknames is "Murder Matt," according to three law enforcement officials familiar with the case.

McCray has acknowledged attending the party but denies any involvement in the shootings.

Police told The News last week that they are still investigating a slaying from earlier this year that also erupted after a party attended by many gangsters.

William Humphrey of Courtland Street was gunned down around 3 a.m. on Feb. 7 in a parking lot outside a tavern known as Maggie's at 715 Military Road. No arrests have been made in connection with Humphrey's death, and authorities do not believe there is any direct link between the shootings at Maggie's and City Grill.

But officers do see disturbing similarities.

"William Humphrey was killed after a party attended by a lot of gangsters ... a privately promoted party like the one at City Grill," one law enforcement official said.

The owner and liquor license holder at Maggie's, Margaret Rose, did not return two calls seeking her comment.

An attorney for Maggie's -- Robert J. Bolm, a former commissioner of the State Liquor Authority -- called the incident unfortunate and said he believes it is one of the reasons Maggie's stopped allowing private promoters to run parties there.

"She stopped having the parties there because they were attracting the wrong people," Bolm said of owner Margaret Rose. "[Rose] is a good and conscientious business person. She's owned the place for about 15 years, and it has never been known as a trouble spot, except for these parties."

Formerly known as the M & E Tavern, Maggie's has a long reputation as "a working-class neighborhood bar ... with very good food, including the fish fry," Bolm said.

Bolm, who retired from the liquor authority in 2000, said he has represented several other establishments that ran into problems with unruly and violent customers after allowing private promoters to hold parties there.

He said he would advise bar owners that there have been "a lot of problems" at such parties and that they aren't worth the risk, even though bar owners can make a lot of money with a gangster clientele.

One Buffalo police detective said such parties attract a crowd made up "about 50 percent with normal people, looking to have a good time, and about 50 percent with gangsters."

How do such parties attract a gangster clientele?

Police said the party promoters advertise the blasts on Web sites and personal networking pages that gang members frequently view.

Many Buffalo bar owners, including Jay Manno, who owns the Soho Bar on Chippewa Street and is president of the Buffalo Entertainment District Association, feel the parties have hurt the image of downtown.

Marlando Brannon, who is associated with a company called TruLife Entertainment, sponsored the City Grill party, police said.

After numerous efforts to reach Brannon, a News reporter spoke briefly on the telephone with him Thursday.

Brannon declined to discuss his parties, except to emphatically state that he had no connection to the party at Maggie's where Humphrey was killed. He said he might have more to say after he meets with his attorney.

dherbeck@buffnews.com null