Enemies at the Gates! Violence Erupts at the Castle

The annual "Screaming Night" winter kink event eneded in screams of another sort as violence broke out in a back room at the Castle in the Historic Ybor district of Tamp late Saturday night.  Police responded to reports of both a fire and assault to find a grisly scene of premeditated murder, arson, and street justice all in a single scene.  thanks to the quick response of the Tampa Bay Fire Department, the fire was contained to the backstage area, and none of the event guests were injured.
  The victim, identified only as Karnal, was at the agent for the band "The Synisters".  The event headliners, the band had recently signed a massive 5-album record deal with Hellfyre Record and would be going on a regional tour to promote the release of their first full-length studio album, "Syns of the Father". No motive has been given for why the agent was targeted, but police are leaning to categorize this as a possible hate crime, due to religious paraphenalia found on the bodies of the two assailant. 
  "It's always a Witch-hunt!  These religious fanatics will use any excuse to persecute metas!" says Harvey Hendricks, 58, co-owner and head of Talent Acquisition at Hellfyre Records.  "Metas have been called demon-blooded by right-wing religious fanatics for years!  With the local events, it was only a matter of time before that rhetoric would drive believes to violent ends against innocent people."  Hendricks stated he was referring to the terrorist attack by the Heralds of Apocalypse on the Metahuman Registration Archive and mitigation testing facility that occured last month.
  The two assailants, Lucas Danforth and Peter Almeida, had snuck in with the road crew of one of the performing bands, The Chior of Desire, according to police.  upon review of the security foootage, they had been seen on security cameras bringing in equipment and then hiding within the venue until the event started, using the crowd as cover while they waited for an opportunity to attack their target in the dressing room after the band had taken stage just after 11:00 PM.  A woman, Crystal Deeds, 27, witnessed the attack.
  "These two men just barged in there, asking if he was the agent for the Synisters.  They then went to shake his hand, but they burned him with something instead!  Karnal yelped in pain, and that when they pulled out these energy swords and started chopping him up."  Deeds reported that a third assailant had joined in after the initial attack, grabbing her and tossing her outside the dressing room.  At that point, a fire errupted in the room.
  "Yeah, he was making room so he could join in." says Manuel Norieta, 26.  Norieta is employed as a security guard for Mr. Hendricks, and stepped in when he saw some suspicous movements occurring at the doors to the backstage area.  "Some dickwad clipped the fire sprinklers with his energy wings, then he and his friend bee-lined to the backstage area.  I was going to find out why when I saw actual fire and smoke coming from the dressing room.  I moved in and saw the end of the attack - the third guy has his energy sword straight through Karnal.  I thought they were going to attack others, so I moved to put them down.  I saw they had already used deadly force."  Norieta killed two of the assailants, reporting that the third had fled the scene by leaping through the damaged roof and out into the alley.  "Once they started running, my hands were tied - can't give chase, even though I could have easily gotten him."  Norieta is referring to the CAPE act, which protects citizens legally when they step in to counter criminal actions, but bars individuals from chasing down fleeing individuals unless an immediate, identifiable threat is still present.  
  Due to the testimony of Norieta and Deeds, as well as supporting security footage, police declined to make an arrest on Noriea for his actions, citing the protections of the CAPE Act.  They are still looking for the third suspect, wanted for murder, as well as two other individuals who are being listed as persons of interest in the ongoing investigation.  Norieta reported that the third assailant escaped in a black 2038 Lincoln Grand Legacy hearse, and that he was not alone.
  [[ Pictures of the three individual taken from security footage are shown; the first is Preacher, identified "Jon Doe" and the possible third assailant, followed by Starhawk and Marcus, listed as persons of interest.  Pictures are paired; first with a grab from the entryway when coming into the venue (better view of the invidiual), and second picture is more dark and grainy, in the main event hall when each was last seen before going to the backstage area. ]]
  "We've got an APB out for the car and the suspect, and will be going through the evidence to make sure we build a solid case." Detective Walter Ambrose stated.  "With a homicide & arson, it will take some time to get all the evidence sorted out, but we will make sure justice is served."
  Due to both the fire and crime scene, the Screaming Night event was concluded early.