LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police continue to investigate the death of Christopher McKinney at Nowhere Bar in the Highlands. McKinney died after an altercation with the private security guard the bar employed.
The question from the community remains: will this security guard be charged?
Days before Christmas, a similar incident happened where a suspect opened fire outside of a hookah lounge. This incident left the owner dead, and the suspect was then shot in the foot by security. In this incident, no charges were filed against the guard.
Fast forward to a New Year’s Eve incident at Kroger where a man was stabbed by a security guard. Kroger is now facing a lawsuit, and the guard has been charged.
RELATED: Kroger security guard charged with assault after stabbing customer with pocket knife during argument
"The problem with security guards is that they are caught between being a civilian and an officer," Greg Gitschier said. Gitschier is a retired law enforcement officer, and he now spends his day's training security personnel and companies.
“I think sometimes they don’t realize they don’t have any type of special authority,” he said.
Gitschier says all actions, of any security guard, can result in criminal charges.
“In these night club situations, these restaurant situations, in my opinion, the security guard has to act like a civilian. He does not have special authority to hit or choke or anything on someone,” Gitschier explained.
Although LMPD has not released all the details of what transpired at Nowhere Bar, one thing is clear, according to Gitschier.
“If that person that they're trying to escort out turns violent, they have every right in the world to protect themselves, just like you and I have,” he said.
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