A Georgia bar where a fight and subsequent shooting left one woman dead and seven others injured has lost its liquor license — at least for now.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office on Friday temporarily suspended the alcohol permit for The Thirsty Turtle in downtown Macon, less than 24 hours after a drive-by shooting happened outside the bar Friday morning. According to the revocation letter dated Friday, the move suspends alcohol sales at the bar for up to 90 days. In that time, the sheriff’s office will review the bar’s operations
“We are naturally very disappointed with the sheriff’s decision to close our establishment. We have no doubt that once all the facts are assembled and the available evidence has been examined by clearer heads, it will be determined that the Thirsty Turtle had no part in the atrocities that were perpetrated against the people of our community,” Thirsty Turtle General Manager Matthew Obelgoner said in a statement, WMAZ out of Macon, Georgia reported.
Obelgoner said the bar will comply with the sheriff’s order. He added that the victims of Friday morning’s shooting will be in the business’ thoughts and prayers.
The sheriff’s decision comes after a joint statement from current and incoming county officials which urged the revocation "should there be criminal findings in the investigation of the incident.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the shooting started after a fight at the bar. A vehicle drove by the bar and shot into the crowd. Six people were shot and two people were stabbed. One woman, 22-year-old Jhacaya Mann, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Linda Howard said someone believed to be involved in “an altercation” outside the club either drove or rode up Cherry Street and opened fire on people standing outside.
One victim underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition, according to The Macon Telegraph. The other victims were in stable condition with non-life-threatening wounds.
Many of the shots appeared to have been fired at the corner of Third Street and Cherry Street in an area that many pedestrians frequent during the day.
“It’s a truly troubling incident right in downtown,” Sheriff David Davis said. “We’re trying to figure out what was the cause of all the violence.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the sheriff’s office at 478-751-7500, or call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-682-7463.
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