Indianapolis, Indiana - Police Arrest Dejuan A. Brown After 5 Wounded in Shooting at Indy Trade Club

Man Returns to Bar After Fight, Shoots 5

Police have arrested a suspect in the bar shooting that left five people wounded, 3 critically, at the Indy Trade Club on January 26. Court documents say that the shooter lost a fight outside of the bar before returning and opening fire inside the establishment.

38-year-old Dejuan A. Brown has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery, three counts of battery by means of a deadly weapon, and one count of criminal recklessness. He is in custody at Marion County Jail.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on January 26, officers responded to reports of a shooting at the bar on the 2900 block of North Sherman Drive. The first officers to arrive at the scene found three gunshot wound victims and the officers began applying first aid, including a tourniquet to one of the victims.

Officers also discovered eight fired cartridge cases from a .40-caliber gun, along with bullets and fragments at the scene.

Two of the five victims were brought to Eskenazi hospital, while a third was brought to Methodist Hospital. Shortly following the shooting, officers were notified that two additional gunshot wound victims had checked themselves in at Community East Hospital.

Witnesses told police that Brown was involved in a physical fight with another man outside of the bar earlier in the night, which was broken up by security. Both men were told to leave the bar. An hour later, witnesses say a man wearing a bandana and scarf over his face kicked in the door and began shooting. They also said that the man was wearing the same clothes as one of the two individuals involved with the earlier fight.

A jury trial is scheduled for May.

Legal Recourse for Bar Shooting Victims and Their Families

Attorney contributor Jeff Gibson helps the victims of preventable violent crimes recover the financial compensation they need and deserve in civil lawsuits. Here are some of Jeff’s thoughts on the legal options available to families affected by bar and nightclub shootings:

Safety of the premises needs to be the top priority for all property owners. According to premises liability laws, all property owners are legally required to ensure that their properties are free from foreseeable dangers which could end up hurting people who visit their properties. As part of these legal requirements, property owners also have an obligation to take preventative measures for reducing the risk of foreseeable violent crime.

Victims of shootings often ask, “Can I sue for being shot?”

In bar and nightclub shooting cases, it’s important to determine if the property owner did all in their power to keep their property safe from the risk of violent crime. In some cases, bar and nightclub owners may be considered negligent for failing to prevent a shooting – which could provide grounds for a lawsuit by the victims and their families.

For example, a bar owner might be considered negligent if there was a history of violence at the bar but no efforts were made to improve safety, such as hiring security guards.

Have you or a loved one recently become the victim of a bar shooting? We want to help your family find the justice you deserve. You can learn more about your legal options by contacting our experienced bar shooting victim attorneys for a free consultation.