Washington, DC - Police Chief Criticizes Safari Restaurant and Lounge Staff and Management After Fatal Shooting

Police Chief Asks City to Revoke Liquor License from Safari DC Restaurant

Washington D.C. police chief Peter Newsham has harshly criticized the employees and management of Safari DC Restaurant and Lounge in the days following a fatal bar shooting that left one dead and one wounded.

Newsham wrote a letter to the director of the city’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, claiming that the business failed to hire extra security for the special event happening on the night of the shooting, did not have working security cameras, and that the manager was intoxicated while speaking with officers after the shooting.

He went on to directly blame the bar for failing to prevent the shooting, writing that “the violent, criminal act that resulted in the homicide can be connected directly to the operations of this establishment.

A large fight started at the restaurant at around 1:25 a.m on February 24 and the venue’s DJ was allegedly assaulted. However, management did not call 911 about this assault. Gunfire broke out a few minutes later, and 30-year-old David Elijah Brandon was shot and killed. Another person was also injured.

D.C. police say that the business has been issued an emergency order for closure.

When Are Bar Owners Liable for Shootings?

Attorney contributor and gun crimes injury lawyer Laurence Banville is a former prosecutor who now represents victims of preventable crimes in civil lawsuits. We’ve asked him to share some information on bar owner liability for shootings on their properties:

The owners of bars, nightclubs, and all other types of businesses have an obligation to make sure their employees and customers are safe. This includes keeping the premises secure and protected from the risk of reasonably foreseeable violent crime. When a shooting happens at a bar or nightclub, it’s important to determine if the property owner did all that they could to keep their property safe.

Some bar shooting cases involve property owner negligence, such as inadequate security. In these cases, the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit against the bar owner.

If you or a loved one has recently become a victim of a bar shooting, we want to help your family find justice during this difficult time. You can learn more about your legal options in a free consultation with one of our experienced crime victim attorneys.