LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Shively liquor store reached an agreement with the city Thursday after its liquor license was suspended following a deadly shooting at the business.
Shively Alcoholic Beverage Control issued an emergency suspension of HK Liquors' liquor license Sunday, July 12, after four men were shot the day before.
According to Shively police, officers responded Saturday at about 3 a.m. July 11 to the 3200 block of Ralph Avenue after a report of a shooting. Police said one person died and three others suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The criminal investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, and Shively police haven't announced any arrests. But Shively ABC agent R.T. Watkins said the agency opened its own independent investigation following the suspension.
"Abiding by the law and safety for the community, that's always top priority," Watkins said Thursday.
Watkins said this was the first ever emergency suspension it had to issue. He said it is not the agency's "desire" to close businesses down, but that keeping the community safe is the top priority. Watkins said the agency was also investigating possible illegal gambling at the store, but the details of those allegations are unclear.
During a rescheduled hearing Thursday, HK Liquors and the city attorney came to an agreement Watkins said is geared towards making the business abide to the laws set in place by ABC, more communication with ABC and Shively police and a potential monetary fine.
The agreement, which is in the hands of the Shively ABC administrator, still needs to be signed.
"Within five business days he will make a ruling and then, when the things that have been agreed to have been set in motion at the business, then the agreement will start," said Watkins.
In a statement, the liquor store's attorney said nothing like this has happened in the business' 10 years, and they are grieving the loss of their friend who died in the shooting. The attorney said HK Liquors is grateful to the city for working through this with them, looking at their record and seeing that it's clean.
"When I heard about it and I knew the business, and I was like 'Well what happened there?' There's nothing ever happens over there, it's pretty much quiet," Shively City Councilperson Shanell Thompson said.
Thompson attended Thursday's hearing to take in both sides.
"I wanted to let the business know that we are here to support and I also wanted to let my fellow colleagues know and then the community know that the council is here to do whatever we need to do," she said.
As the business waits for those five business days to pass for the agreement to take effect, Thompson said it takes everyone to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"Do your part," she said. "If you do your part and we work together, hopefully things like this will not continue to happen anywhere, not just in Shively."
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