The prosecution opened its case Wednesday in the E2 nightclub trial by showing dramatic video footage of the stampede that killed 21 people.

Four security cameras from the club captured the events that occurred on February 17^th, 2003.  The tapes showed how an overwhelming number of people began pushing, shoving and eventually falling to create a logjam of bodies.

Assistant State’s Attorney Pat McGuire called Brad Hughes to the stand as his first witness.  Hughes was a security guard at the club who was working at the front door on the night of the stampede.

Hughes detailed for Cook County judge Dennis J. Porter his version of events that night in the crowded nightclub at 2347 S. Michigan. The tragedy started when mace was sprayed into the crowd, causing people to dart for the exits. 

“The crowd hit the doors upstairs.” Hughes said.  “The doors burst open and the people on the top landing got thrown on top of the people that were coming up the stairs.”

Hughes testified that the doors to the club were closed when security upstairs brought out “three or four” men who were fighting. 

The tapes show Hughes’ actions throughout the night.  Before the stampede he was checking identification and patting down club goers before they entered the building. 

As the mayhem was breaking out on the landing above where he was working, Hughes testified that he was unaware of exactly how serious the situation upstairs had become.

 According to his testimony, Hughes said there were two sets of security guards working that night.  He was employed by E2 and co-defendants Calvin Hollins Jr. and Calvin Hollins III.

The other team of security guards was brought to the club by Envy Productions, that night’s promoter.  That group of guards, referred to by Hughes as “team one”, was employed by Marco Flores, the third co-defendant.  All three defendants were charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Hughes testified that none of the E2 security guards were carrying mace on the night of the incident, but that a few of the “team one” guards were. 

While describing the moments after the door burst open on the second floor landing, Hughes said he was almost caught in the stampede.  After freeing himself and another security guard, Hughes said they tried to pull people out of the pile that was forming at the exit.

“All the people that were on the first landing that we were able to get to, we were pulling them out,” Hughes said.  “And we got to certain people and we just couldn’t move them anymore.”

The video being showed by the prosecutors only accentuated the dramatic and heartbreaking scene that night at the club.  Some of the victims’ relatives in the courtroom audibly gasped at times.

Tom Breen, one of the defense attorneys for Calvin Hill Jr., cross-examined Hughes.  Each defendant will be allowed to have an attorney cross-examine Hughes.

The prosecution is expected to continue presenting their case tomorrow at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse.