Scranton, Pennsylvania - Man Injured in 3rd Shooting at Rocky's Bar Since October

Authorities Consider Nuisance Bar Ordinance After 3rd Shooting at Rocky’s Lounge

Police are investigating a shooting that occurred outside of Rocky’s Lounge in the early hours of Sunday, December 2nd. This makes the third shooting outside of the same bar since early October.

According to investigators, someone shot a man outside of Rocky’s Lounge on Jefferson Avenue at around 2 a.m. Sunday following an argument. As of Sunday night, the victim was in critical condition and no one was in custody for the shooting.

This is the third time gunshots have been fired outside of Rocky’s Lounge since the first week of October. On Saturday, October 6, shots were fired but there were no reports of anyone being struck by bullets. Exactly one week later, on October 13, another shooting with no injuries was reported.

Police arrested the same suspect, 45-year-old Rajuhn Lavan, in connection with both of these incidents. According to the police, Lavan was shot and injured in the second incident on October 13. A woman drove him to a nearby hospital and he was later arrested for both shootings.

Local authorities are considering issuing a nuisance bar ordinance to Rocky’s Lounge after the latest shooting.

Are Bar Owners Liable For Shootings?

Brian Kent is a former criminal prosecutor who now represents crime victims in civil lawsuits. We’ve asked him for some input into the legal options available to bar shooting victims and their families:

Owning a bar or nightclub comes with many responsibilities, and maintaining the safety of the property, customers, and employees may be the most important one. Bar owners and all other property owners are legally required to make sure their properties are reasonably safe from foreseeable dangers, including violent crime. Common protections against violent crime might include hired security guards, weapons searches, and metal detectors.

When a bar shooting occurs because of inadequate security standards or another form of bar owner negligence, the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit against the bar owner. If you or someone you love has died or been injured in a bar or nightclub shooting, consider speaking to an experienced shooting victim lawyer about your family’s legal options.