Key Takeaways
- A woman was shot at Time Out Sports Bar & Grill on North Spur 63 in Longview on Saturday, October 24. She was taken to a hospital with injuries police described as non-life-threatening.
- Longview police say aggravated assault charges are being filed. As of the initial coverage, no arrest had been reported, and no suspect information had been released.
- Those harmed in a shooting may have legal options if inadequate security or a failure to take reasonable precautions against a foreseeable risk of violence contributed to the incident.
Woman Shot at Longview, Texas, Sports Bar After Disturbance, Police Say
Longview police responded on Saturday, October 24, after receiving multiple calls reporting a shooting at Time Out Sports Bar & Grill at 501 North Spur 63, in Longview Texas, according to KLTV. Officers learned that a disturbance had led to multiple gunshots being fired and that a woman had been injured.
The woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries that police described as non-life-threatening, according to KETK. Police have not released her name or age.
The Longview Police Department said aggravated assault charges had been filed in connection with the shooting, according to KETK.
Police have not said what the disturbance was about. Anyone with information to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.
What This Shooting Means for Negligent Security Claims
Under Texas law, bars and other businesses have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect their customers from foreseeable dangers, including certain acts of violence. However, a business is not automatically liable simply because a shooting occurs on its property.
In determining whether a violent incident was foreseeable, Texas courts may consider the history of criminal activity at or near a property. This includes how recently previous incidents occurred, how frequently they happened, whether they involved similar violence, and whether the business knew or should have known about them.
Additional records, including police calls for service, incident reports, and complaints or violations documented by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), may provide insight into whether the establishment had experienced prior security concerns.
A business may also have a duty to act when employees become aware of a developing threat, even without a documented history of similar incidents.
In Del Lago Partners, Inc. v. Smith (2010), the Texas Supreme Court upheld a finding of liability against a bar where employees witnessed escalating confrontations among patrons for approximately 90 minutes but failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the violence that followed.
This ruling is particularly relevant to examining the circumstances surrounding the Time Out Sports Bar & Grill shooting.
According to Longview police, a disturbance preceded the gunfire that injured a woman on October 24. What remains unclear is how long the disturbance lasted, whether employees or security personnel witnessed it, and whether they had an opportunity to intervene before shots were fired.
These details could be important in determining whether the shooting was foreseeable and whether reasonable security measures might have prevented or reduced the risk of injury.
What Should Be Investigated?
Several factors could help determine whether inadequate security contributed to the shooting at Time Out Sports Bar & Grill:
- History of violence: Whether previous shootings, fights, weapons complaints, or other violent incidents occurred at or near the property, and whether management was aware of them.
- Staff awareness: Whether employees or security personnel witnessed the disturbance or received warnings before shots were fired.
- Security response: Whether staff attempted to intervene, contacted law enforcement, or took other reasonable precautions after becoming aware of the disturbance.
- Security measures: Whether the bar had security or door staff on duty, adequate entry screening, and appropriate crowd management procedures.
- Surveillance footage: Whether cameras covered the bar’s interior, entrances, and parking area, and whether footage of the disturbance or shooting was preserved.
- Lighting and visibility: Whether the entrance, parking area, and surrounding property had adequate lighting, particularly if the shooting occurred outside.
- Police and regulatory records: Whether previous calls for service, incident reports, or complaints and violations documented by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) reveal relevant safety concerns.
These details could help determine whether the business knew or should have known about a foreseeable risk of violence, whether reasonable security measures were in place, and whether any failure to take appropriate precautions contributed to the woman’s injuries.
Further investigation into the circumstances leading up to the gunfire, the establishment’s security practices, and any history of violent incidents would be necessary to evaluate whether the injured woman may have grounds for a civil negligent security claim.
Were You Injured in a Bar Shooting or a Similar Incident?
If you or someone you love was injured in the shooting at Time Out Sports Bar & Grill, or in a violent incident at another bar, restaurant, or nightlife venue in Texas, you may have legal options against the business owner or operator.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent victims of negligent security at bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and other commercial properties, holding owners and operators accountable when inadequate security staffing, entry screening, lighting, or camera coverage contributes to a preventable injury. Our team can help you understand whether a business met its legal duty to protect you, and what compensation may be available for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Every consultation is free and confidential.
