Second man charged in shooting outside bar; mayor speaks out about incident

UPDATE 11/4/22 @ 7:30 p.m.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Both the Huntington mayor and the owner of Premier Pub and Grill spoke with WSAZ about Friday morning’s shooting outside a Huntington bar that critically injured a restaurant worker at a nearby business in the 1500 block of 4th Avenue.

Mayor Steve Williams said he wants the bar shut down because of the its history of being involved with shooting incidents.

“If we had this problem in the spring and now in the fall having the same, then we need to shut this down,” Williams said. “If for nothing else, sending a message to every other bar that we are not putting up with it.”

The Alcohol Beverage Control Administration and Huntington Police are working together to investigate the incident.

In the report from the ABCA, it states that the licensee and owner Ronald Davis failed to act in a manner to prevent violence and gunplay, resulting in gunshots fired on a person, who was critically injured, and damage to property. The report also states Davis failed to maintain control of the premises and operate a bona fide private club of good reputation.

Williams said he has spoken with ABCA officials about the bar, saying the city will pursue claiming the business as a public nuisance.

“I have no doubt that they are going to be every bit as aggressive on this as we would want them to be,” Williams said. “They should not be open again, and if it is then we will fight it with every inch of legal authority that we have.”

Ronald Davis spoke with WSAZ.

“Obviously we are slightly responsible for everything that happened, even if it is outside of the premises, and we do everything. We have a single entry,” Davis said. “It was very tragic what happened here last night; it was completely uncalled for.”

Davis said it is hard to control when someone leaves the business and comes back in from their car with a firearm.

“One of the shooters hit one of his friends and knocked him over. We immediately threw all three guys out of the club when we saw this. The problem escalated from there out on the sidewalk. We just tried to de-escalate. They just weren’t having it; they continued to cause a scene,” Davis said. “They made a threat on the business, and I got all of my customers and staff back in the building safely. I go back to lock the door, and that is when the guy opened fire.”

The ABCA has temporarily suspended the license for Premiere Pub and Grill to operate until at least Nov. 13 as the investigation continues. Based on that investigation, the ABCA is the agency that makes the decision to take away the license or reinstate it.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the shooting. For that information, see previous coverage below.

UPDATE 11/4/22 @ 6:45 p.m.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A second man has been arrested in connection with a shooting early Friday outside a Huntington bar that critically injured a restaurant worker at a nearby business.

Gavin Scott Bailey, 20, of Huntington, was driving the vehicle involved in the shooting, according to Huntington Police.

The incident happened around 3:15 a.m. Friday near Premier Pub and Grill in the 1500 block of 4th Avenue. Several stray bullets hit nearby business D.P. Dough where a worker was critically injured on the job.

Police say Bailey faces two felony counts of aiding and abetting malicious wounding, as well as aiding and abetting use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Another man, Kristopher Jason Brown, 21, is charged with nine felonies including malicious wounding and wanton endangerment.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.

ORIGINAL STORY

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A Huntington man was arraigned on charges after an early Friday morning shooting outside a Huntington bar.

Kristopher Jason Brown, 21, is charged with nine felonies including malicious wounding and wanton endangerment.

An employee of D.P. Dough was taken to the hospital in critical condition after being hit by stray bullets while on the job.

According to Huntington’s police chief, around 3:15 Friday morning, police officers responded to Premier Pub and Grill along 4th Avenue after reports of an argument.

By the time police arrived, Chief Colder says shots had been fired outside toward the business.

Chief Colder tells WSAZ.com several stray bullets hit a neighboring business, D.P. Dough.

An employee inside D.P. Dough was hit by bullets and injured, says Chief Colder.

The employee was taken to the hospital and is currently listed in critical condition.

The owner of D.P. Dough, T.J. Johnson, released the following statement regarding the incident:

“Our D.P. Dough family will be praying for our co-worker. We ask that you keep him in your prayers and that he makes a full and speedy recovery. We hope the person who committed this crime is brought to swift justice. Please pray for the victim’s family and all of the D.P. Dough employees who witnessed this terrible act of violence.”

Officials say they are still trying to locate another person involved in the shooting.

Meanwhile, the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration suspended the license of Premier Pub and Grill.

The WVABCA issued an order suspending the business license through Nov. 13, 2022.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.

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