LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two people have died, and four others have been injured following a shooting on West Market Street.
Metro Police said the incident happened at the Southern Restaurant and Lounge, not too far from the Kentucky International Convention Center, around 3 a.m. Sunday.
According to the restaurant's Facebook page, an event called "Southern's Last Rodeo" took place Saturday night. A post said the restaurant planned to close and move to another location.
Major Shannon Lauder said the incident involved patrons inside the restaurant and the area outside the restaurant.
When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was later identified as 37-year-old Terrance Bethel. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Colby Banks, 35, was the second victim in the shooting. Banks was originally listed in critical condition by died later Sunday at UofL Hospital, according to Mayor Craig Greenberg.
“Our city has been struck by another gun violence tragedy,” he said.
LMPD said four other victims, three adult women and one adult man, took themselves to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police initially reported a seventh victim, but Maj. Lauder later said that person was believed to have been injured in a fall connected to the incident, rather than being shot.
A woman inside the restaurant, who did not want to be identified, described the chaotic moments to WHAS11 News.
"I was inside, and I was going to the bar and heard two shots. I got knocked down and people were running over us," she recalled. "We walked outside to the front and saw two men behind an SUV on the ground non-responsive. People were crying [and] I saw a man fighting for his life."
Assistant Chief Steve Healy said there were reportedly 200 to 300 people in attendance at the restaurant when the shooting occurred.
“We are urging people who know what happened to speak up,” he said. “This is our community; we cannot do this alone. We need the public’s assistance when they see something to say something.”
Healy, along with city officials confirmed they were dedicating resources to investigating the incident and bringing closure to the families who lost loved ones.
Restaurant problems
David James, Deputy Mayor of Emergency Emergency Services, said they had received a complaint of “activity” at Southern Restaurant and Lounge on July 10.
From there, James said he began working with the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC), LMPD and the health and fire department “to try and deal with the situation”.
After four other incidents on July 20, 22 and Aug. 5 and 12, James said Louisville Metro created a presence there to ensure it was safe for everyone in the area.
“This particular location received the full attention of Louisville Metro in all ways,” he said. “One of those was that a citation was issued through the public health department to this location for the lack of refrigeration.”
James said there was confusion surrounding the business on whether it was a restaurant or bar. He alluded to it actually being a bar posing as a restaurant.
The building's limit capacity was set to 105 by the fire marshal but police believe about 200 to 300 people were there Saturday night.
WHAS11 News submitted an open records request on issues regarding incidents that happened at the business.
The lease between Southern Restaurant and Lounge and their landlord was terminated Aug. 31.
Greenberg said the landlord has been fully cooperating.
Brad Silveria, the ABC administrator for Jefferson County, said filed an emergency suspension order with the state because of the violence that happened at Southern Restaurant and Lounge.
He said the process takes time and it would mean the immediate revocation of the license, prohibiting the owners from operating again.
2 a.m. closures?
Mayor Greenberg said the majority of bar and restaurant owners in the city have been responsible citizens. However, he said there are several that are not focused on a safe environment for visitors.
“There are some bar owners and operators who are knowingly and repetitively flaunting our laws,” he said. “This is not acceptable. It’s not acceptable to our administration and it’s not acceptable to our city.”
Greenberg said the city has stepped up enforcement of the laws regarding bars and restaurants but called on Metro Council to take a look at current ordinances. He said there are far too many violent incidents happening when bars and clubs are the only establishments open.
Greenberg wants conversations to take place with the council and the community to determine whether these establishments should stay open until 4 a.m.
Most of Kentucky’s last call times is at 2 a.m. but Louisville is 4 a.m. Over in Indiana and Tennessee, it’s 3 a.m.
“Let’s talk about it seriously and determine how we move forward.”
Police do not have any suspects in the restaurant shooting. If you have any information that can aid them in their investigation, you are asked to call the Anonymous Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD or use their online Crime Tip Portal.
The investigation is ongoing.
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