LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following a string of weekend shootings that left four people killed and four others injured across Louisville, city officials have announced a proposal that would allow local Alcohol Beverage Control officials to issue emergency license suspensions.
Mayor Craig Greenberg along with Metro Councilmen Rick Blackwell, D-12, and Ben Reno-Weber, D-8, and the Metro ABC unit announced the proposed ordinance amendment on Monday.
The news comes after several gun-related incidents, including a deadly shooting inside Café 360 on Bardstown Road early Sunday that killed 21-year-old Theodore Brown.
Mayor Greenberg called the violent acts this weekend “unacceptable" and said this ordinance would help "combat violent crime, protect lives and better support local businesses." He said city officials are working together to find real solutions to address crime.
How will the ordinance work?
It would amend Louisville ABC regulations to allow the agency to issue immediate, emergency license suspensions in cases where there’s a threat to public safety, health or welfare across the county. However, if one is issued, the licensee would be granted a suspension hearing within three days.
"We need to make sure that we have every available resource in our professionals' hands to be able to deal with those threats," Blackwell said.
Blackwell tells WHAS11 he's heard from businesses concerned over the potential for abuse of power, to which he responded by saying a new version of his ordinance will list specific conditions of what qualifies as an emergency.
They include: a violation that directly contributes to death or serious injury, a firearm being discharged, excessive complaints requiring law enforcement to expend an unordinary amount of resources in a six month period, or manmade or natural events that have put the site in a position where it poses a serious threat.
“These senseless and tragic shootings in the Highlands and Bon Air, as well as those devastating families and neighborhoods across Louisville, only add to the urgency of our efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe from gun violence,” Councilman Reno-Weber said. “We have been working closely with ABC and LMPD on these initial concrete steps, and we have some additional actions we will be announcing soon.”
Metro ABC made a request to state ABC officials to suspend the liquor license of Café 360 on Monday. The Kentucky Department of ABC currently holds the authority to issue emergency suspensions.
“First and foremost, Metro ABC wants to extend our deepest sympathy to all those affected by this horrible act of violence. Guns inside alcohol establishments are never a good mixture,” Brad Silveria, Metro ABC director, said. “To further strengthen our commitment to safety, the administration has partnered with Councilmen Blackwell and Reno-Weber offices for an ordinance amendment that would add emergency suspension power against the local ABC license. This measure will allow Metro ABC to work swiftly to administer accountability. All steps available will be taken to protect our community from tragedies like the one that occurred Sunday.”
Café 360's owner, who didn't want to be identified, told WHAS 11 he's troubled by the fight that escalated inside his bar -- leading to the deadly shooting. He says he'll be hiring security moving forward to better keep customers safe.
The business, which was closed Monday as police returned to continue their investigation, is set to reopen on Tuesday.
Police are still working to determine what happened inside Café 360 and to arrest suspects.
Councilman Blackwell's proposal will be discussed in a Metro Council committee meeting on Wednesday, March 6. If it gets a vote and passes, it would be eligible for a full Metro Council vote on Thursday, March 14.
If you have any information that can help police in their investigation, you are asked to call the Anonymous Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD or use their online Crime Tip Portal.
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