HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – At the request of the Huntington Police Department, the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (ABCA) has suspended the license of Premier Food & Beverage LLC through April 10.
“During the past two weekends, there have been shootings that have occurred in the immediate area outside the Premier Pub & Grill, located in the 1500 block of 4th Avenue,” Huntington Police Chief Karl Colder said. “Now, four victims who have either been patrons of Premier or were waiting in line to enter the establishment have been struck by gunfire.
“The latest shooting on Saturday, March 26, escalated the need to request that the ABCA suspend Premier’s license for the sake of the public’s safety and to allow detectives to thoroughly investigate these incidents,” the Chief added. “We truly appreciate the ABCA’s assistance and coordination in this matter.”
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on March 20, Huntington Police officers responded to reports of gunshots in the 1500 block of 4th Avenue and discovered a shooting had occurred in the alley between 3rd and 4th avenues.
Officers located a 39-year-old man who had been shot in the leg. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His injury did not appear to be life-threatening. A 36-year-old woman later arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to her ankle. Her injury also did not appear to be life-threatening.
The investigation has revealed that an argument inside Premier led to the shooting.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Huntington Police officers responded to the 1500 block of 4th Avenue for a shots-fired call. Upon the officers’ arrival, they discovered a man and woman had been shot while they were waiting in line to enter Premier. The woman was shot in the abdomen, and the man was shot in the leg. Both victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment to their injuries. The man has since been released from the hospital, while the woman underwent surgery and is recovering.
Both shootings remains under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding either shootings on March 20 or March 26 is encouraged to call the Huntington Police Department at 304-696-4420 or the HPD Anonymous Tip Line at 304-696-4444.
According to the ABCA’s suspension order, which was signed by ABCA Commissioner Fredric L. Wooton on March 27, the ABCA can curtail or extend the suspension until the agency and HPD complete their investigation. The order also requires the licensee to submit a detailed, written explanation of the events along with written improvement and security plans regarding its private club bar operations by April 6, 2022.