Key Takeaways
- A 17-year-old was shot and killed and a 16-year-old was critically injured outside Dasha Barbour’s Southern Bistro on Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville early Saturday, September 12.
- Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control issued an emergency order suspending the restaurant’s alcohol license, saying investigators preliminarily determined the fatal shooting was directly related to “noncompliant operations” at the business.
- Authorities have not announced an arrest, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.
Teen Killed Outside Dasha Barbour’s on Whiskey Row
Louisville Metro Police were called early Saturday morning, September 12, to the 200 block of East Main Street on reports of a shooting, according to WLKY. Officers found a 17-year-old boy with fatal gunshot wounds who was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 16-year-old boy who was also found shot and taken to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition.
The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. directly outside Dasha Barbour’s Southern Bistro, according to WHAS11. The teenager who died was identified as Kameron Neal, 17, WDRB and WAVE reported.
City Suspends Dasha Barbour’s Liquor License
Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control issued an Emergency Suspension Order against the restaurant, located at 217 East Main Street, saying its operations were not compliant with its ABC permit, according to WLKY. The order took effect immediately and suspended the business’s alcohol license while administrative proceedings move forward.
ABC said its investigators preliminarily determined the incident was directly related to noncompliant operations occurring at the business, and that the agency is investigating alongside LMPD, WHAS11 reported.
ABC officials said the restaurant violated two of the categories that can trigger an emergency suspension, according to WDRB and WAVE. The first covers violations of alcoholic beverage control laws that directly led to or contributed to a person’s death or serious physical injury, and it applies whether or not the death or injury happened on the licensed premises. The second covers any other event that would cause a reasonable person to believe continued operation of the premises would pose a serious threat to public health, safety, or welfare. The station reported this is the 13th emergency suspension Metro ABC has issued since the city passed an ordinance in March 2024 aimed at curbing violence near bars and restaurants.
A party was being hosted in the restaurant’s basement event space around the time of the shooting, although the restaurant itself closes at 10 p.m., WHAS11 reported. The restaurant remains open and is continuing to serve food, according to WDRB and WAVE.
Metro Council member Shameka Parrish-Wright spoke with the owners, who were not ready to give an interview but asked her to relay a statement, WDRB and WAVE reported. She said the owner is devastated and that the family is praying for the families of the victims. She also said the owners do not know what they could have done differently, that they have tried to be above board, and that the bulk of what happened took place outside their establishment.
District 4 Councilman Ken Herndon, who represents the area, supported the ABC action and said he wants the agency moving quickly against licensed establishments that break the rules, according to WHAS11. Herndon said six people were shot in his district over the weekend, half of them under 18, and that Louisville’s 1 a.m. weekend curfew for minors is not being properly enforced. A spokesperson for Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office said the city would continue using every available resource to protect the community, and that ABC and LMPD would share more details as their investigation allows.
What This Shooting Means for Negligent Security Claims
Under Kentucky law, businesses are not automatically responsible for criminal acts committed by third parties. A business may, however, have a duty to take reasonable precautions when criminal activity is reasonably foreseeable and the business can reasonably safeguard against the risk. Whether that duty exists depends heavily on what the business knew or reasonably should have anticipated before an incident occurred.
Metro ABC’s emergency action raises additional questions. The agency did not simply report that a shooting occurred near the restaurant. ABC said investigators preliminarily determined that the fatal shooting was directly related to “noncompliant operations” at the business. One of the grounds cited for the emergency suspension applies when violations of alcoholic beverage control laws directly lead or contribute to a death or serious physical injury, regardless of whether the injury occurs on the licensed premises.
That finding is preliminary, is not a determination of civil liability, and remains subject to further administrative proceedings. However, the facts and records underlying ABC’s determination could be relevant to evaluating a potential negligent security claim, including what was happening at the business before the shooting and whether reasonable security measures were in place.
Key Factors in Evaluating a Potential Claim
Details that may be important in evaluating whether reasonable security measures were in place include:
- Whether the event in the basement space was properly permitted, who was operating it, and who was responsible for its security
- Whether identification or age restrictions applied to the event and what measures were used to control entry
- Whether security personnel were on duty at the time, how many were present, and where they were positioned in relation to the entrance and surrounding areas
- Whether cameras covering the entrance, event space, or surrounding areas were operational and monitored
- Whether alcohol was served or otherwise available at the event and, if so, how its service was supervised
- Whether staff or security were aware of a disturbance or other warning signs before shots were fired and what, if anything, they did in response
The shooting remains under investigation by LMPD and Metro ABC. Important questions remain about the event taking place inside the restaurant, the security measures in place that night, and what occurred immediately before the shooting.
Were You or a Loved One Harmed in this Shooting or a Similar Incident?
If one of your loved ones was killed or injured in the shooting outside Dasha Barbour’s, or in a violent incident at another restaurant, bar, event space, or commercial property in Kentucky, you may have legal options against the business.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent victims of negligent security at restaurants, bars, event venues, and other commercial properties, holding owners and operators accountable when inadequate security staffing, entry control, camera coverage, or event management contributes to a preventable injury or death. Our team can help you understand whether a business met its legal duty to protect you, and what compensation may be available for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Every consultation is free and confidential.
Image source: Dasha Barbour’s, via Facebook.
