Key Takeaways
- A 46-year-old Laurinburg man was shot inside Xplicit Sports Bar and Grill on McColl Road early Saturday morning, August 29, and later died at the hospital.
- Police have obtained warrants charging a 36-year-old Wagram man with first-degree murder and three related offenses.
- The family of someone killed in a shooting at a bar or other commercial property may have legal options if inadequate security contributed to the incident.
One Dead, Suspect Sought After Shooting Inside Xplicit Sports Bar and Grill
Laurinburg police responded at about 12:47 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, to a report of a shooting and a person shot at Xplicit Sports Bar and Grill, located at 10101 McColl Road, according to the Laurinburg Exchange.
Officers found Ricky Swindell, 46, inside the business suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest, according to WPDE. Swindell, a Laurinburg resident, was transported to Scotland Memorial Hospital, where he later died, the Laurinburg Exchange reported.
Investigators subsequently identified Michael Anthony Robinson Jr., 36, of Wagram, as the suspect and obtained warrants charging him with first-degree murder, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and going armed to the terror of the public, according to FOX8 WGHP. These are accusations only. Robinson is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted in a court of law.
Police did not immediately release information about what investigators believe led to the shooting or whether Robinson and Swindell knew each other, WPDE reported. The investigation remains ongoing, according to the Laurinburg Exchange.
What This Shooting Means for Negligent Security Claims
A fatal shooting inside a bar, reported to police in the early morning hours, raises questions about what the establishment was doing to keep the people inside it safe. Under North Carolina law, a business that opens its doors to the public owes its visitors a duty of reasonable care, and that duty can include taking reasonable precautions against criminal acts by third parties when such acts are reasonably foreseeable.
For bars and nightclubs, factors such as prior incidents, the nature of the surrounding area, security practices, and the circumstances leading up to the violence may be relevant when evaluating whether an incident was reasonably foreseeable and whether adequate safety measures were in place.
Alcohol, crowds, closing-hour tension, and the mix of people who pass through on a weekend night are known risk factors in the hospitality industry, and they are precisely why many venues use door staff, entry screening, camera coverage, and trained management on the floor. What matters legally is not whether an establishment could have prevented every possible act of violence, but whether the security measures it actually had in place were reasonable given what it knew or should have known about the risk.
Key Factors in Evaluating a Potential Claim
Details that tend to matter in assessing whether a bar met its duty to protect the people inside include:
- Whether the business had security or door staff working that night, and whether the staffing level was appropriate for the number of people on the premises
- Whether any entry screening was in place, such as bag checks or metal detection, given that the shooting occurred inside the building
- Whether surveillance cameras covering the entrance, main floor, and parking area were operational and monitored
- Whether staff were aware of an argument, confrontation, or disturbance before shots were fired, and what they did in response
- Whether prior violent incidents, weapons complaints, or police responses at the property put the operator on notice of a foreseeable risk
- How quickly staff called 911 and whether they took reasonable steps to help the injured and secure the scene.
The facts are still being investigated, and much of what would determine whether the business met its legal duty to protect patrons is not publicly available information. But when someone is shot and killed inside a licensed establishment, whether that business took reasonable steps to protect the people it invited in is a fair and serious question.
Were You Injured in the Xplicit Sports Bar Shooting or a Similar Incident?
If someone you love was killed in the shooting at Xplicit Sports Bar and Grill, or in a violent incident at another bar, club, or restaurant in North Carolina, you may have legal options against the business.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent victims of negligent security at bars, nightclubs, and other commercial properties, holding businesses accountable when inadequate staffing, screening, lighting, or supervision contributes to a preventable injury or death.
Our team can help you understand whether an establishment met its legal duty to protect you or a loved one, and what compensation may be available for medical bills, lost income, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering.
Every consultation is free and confidential.
Image sources: Michael Anthony Robinson Jr., shooting suspect, courtesy of the Laurinburg Police Department, via FOX 8. Xplicit Sports Bar and Grill, © Google, Google Maps.
