Tailgator's Shooting, Aug. 8, 2002

News Net's Initial Report

Report as Amended after Receipt of Sheriff's Report

1st update

2nd update

Interview with Tailgator's Owner George Lopez   --  True to his word, George Lopez spoke with me Friday evening in regards to the shooting which took place in front of his Tailgator's Sports Bar early Wednesday morning.  One of the things we discussed was an article that appeared in the Friday, Aug. 9th edition of a local daily newspaper, in which it was stated that Sheriff's officials and witnesses to the shooting said that the deceased, John Lamar Chavez, 34, of So. Pasadena, had entered the bar with two friends and instigated a fight with the off-duty LAPD officer, Isaac Lowe, that spilled outside.  (Editor's note, the newspaper article did not identify the LAPD officer). It went on to state that Geoge had said that Chavez and his friend walked to the front of the bar and scuffled with the officer.  George told me that Officer Lowe had not been involved in the altercation inside the bar.  As George told it to me, there were two men involved in an altercation with a third patron that spilled outside.  When questioned about the reports of a third suspect, George said he was apparently outside at the time, "we didn't know where he came from."  George stated that his involvement started when he was behind the bar, unaware of what he called a "one-punch fight" that had just taken place in the bathroom, between two of the suspects and a patron, when he saw an altercation begin towards the front of the bar, that eventually spilled outside.  He stated that it was dark and he couldn't see who did the hitting, but that he saw the patron's head snap back as happens when one gets hit.  He then came around from behind the bar to make sure that the people involved left the bar.  When officer Lowe saw George leave the bar to deal with the altercation, he followed him as they all went outside.  When Lowe saw the weapon pulled, he responded.  "Officer Lowe was not involved in the altercation inside" said George.  I pointed out to George that perhaps the newspaper article had recounted the incident as it did based on the Code 20 report released to media by the LA Sheriff's Dept. which states "Preliminary information indicates an altercation occurred inside the bar between three male adults and one off-duty Los Angeles Police Officer.  The altercation carried out onto the sidewalk in front of the bar, during which time a shooting occurred and one male was shot."  I also pointed out that that was what I had been told by Sierra Madre police officials and that I had even changed my original coverage of the story based on the Sheriff's report. George stated "Well, that's not accurate at all, I'm going to have to talk with the Sheriff's and get that changed."  I provided Lopez with a copy of the report, which he reviewed and again stated that he would be in contact with the Sheriff's Dept. to get the report corrected.   Lopez said that the suspects had entered the bar and were there for an hour, maybe an hour and 15 minutes, and didn't buy a drink, which made him suspicious.  He said that he now understands the deceased had a warrant out for robbery, and he suspects that they were probably casing the place to rob it, and that they picked the wrong bar.  "That was a weird night.  My doorman did not show up that night, so that was my first problem.  That night, we threw out about 4 people for no ID, and a fifth who had someone else's ID."  George went on to state that in the year he has been open, he has never had even a fight in Tailgators.  "I've kicked a couple people out because they were drunk, but I put them in cabs.  One guy I even drove home myself, because he didn't live far away."  When I asked him about neighbor complaints of noise and rowdiness that I had reported earlier, he stated that he was sensitive to their concerns and does his best to keep the noise down.  "I even kicked out a band that was too loud and wouldn't turn it down.  Shut them down after one set."  For more on the shooting, click here.  Editor's disclosure - Tailgators is not and never has been an advertiser on the News Net website, though Peppertree Grill, also owned by Lopez with his wife Consuelo, is.  Tailgators did purchase an ad in a flyer distributed in June by News Net's parent company, The Coburn Group, in a joint venture with Gwen Gordon/Graphic Solutions.

Tailgator's Update - According to Police Chief Wayne Bailey, the last fatal shooting in Sierra Madre took place in 1988, when a son shot his parents.

TAILGATOR'S UPDATE - The deceased was John Lamar Chavez, 34 years old, from South Pasadena.  SMPD as of 6am Friday morning had not released the name of the suspect taken into custody.  According to Sgt.  Ruben Enriquez of SMPD, .22 caliber casings were found at the scene that were not those of the LAPD officer.  No indication from officials as to how many shots were fired, though I've spoken with residents who reported hearing 6 - 8 shots.  According to Sgt. Enriquez, the last shooting that took place in Sierra Madre was in 1996, behind Corfu.  That shooting did not involve a fatality; I am still attempting to determine the last time there was a fatal shooting in Sierra Madre.  

TAILGATOR'S UPDATE - We have received a copy of the Sheriff's Dept.'s Code 20 Report, which states "the suspect, who has not yet been identified, has been transferred to a local hospital where he has died as a result of his injuries."  When I asked Officer Cervantes of the LA Sheriff's Dept. why the word suspect was used rather than victim, he indicated that it was because there had been an exchange of gunfire.  I then asked if that meant the suspect had drawn first, and he said that that was the initial report.   If you were at Tailgators at the time of the incident and can provide first hand information, please contact me. 

News Net's amended coverage after receiving Sheriff's report by fax:  Fatal Shooting outside Tailgator's - LA Sheriff's Dept. Homicide Investigators, at the  request of the Sierra Madre Police Dept., have responded to 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. to assist with the investigation of a shooting which occurred outside Tailgator's Bar early Thursday morning (1:30 am).  According to the Sheriff's Dept., an altercation occurred inside Tailgators involving 3 male adults and one off-duty LA police officer.  The altercation carried out onto the sidewalk in front of the bar, during which time a shooting occurred and one male was shot.  A second suspect was taken into custody and a third suspect is still outstanding.  The unidentified male who was shot was taken to a local hospital where he later died of his injuries. The LA police officer was not injured.  Tailgator  owner George Lopez, a former LAPD officer, did not shoot the deceased, it was another customer, who was an off-duty LA Police Officer.  We spoke with George's wife Consuelo, who did not have all the details, but said that at one point the perpetrators did point their weapon at George, but he was not injured.  Consuelo's reaction?  "I thank God George is okay."   I spoke this afternoon at 3:30 with an exhausted looking Tailgator Owner George Lopez who told me that he had not been to bed yet due to dealing with the investigation, etc., and that he was going to handle one thing in the bar and then go home and go to bed.  I asked if he wanted to discuss what happened, and he said he was just too tired, but that I should give him a call later.  Rather than try to push someone who has been through a traumatic event such as this, I plan to speak with him later, and will report what George has to say after we have had a chance to talk.  

We spoke with one of Tailgator's neighbors, who stated that his children have in the past suffered from lack of sleep due to the noise from people at Tailgators "...after midnight when they get drunk."  He stated that this is a rowdy club.  "The two bars that were there before, the Sunset and The Wild Rose, I think it was, were never this bad."  (Editor's note, Tailgator's used to be the Raven and the Rose, Wild Rose was a clothing store). He said that he had heard the gunshots and so he had gathered the kids together.  He further stated that "...the owner is a super nice guy...", and 'he's been responsive, keeping the doors shut to reduce the noise..." but that "...some of the promotions he is running bring in the wrong element, he has Hip-Hop night and things like that...."  A check of Tailgators entertainment schedule shows that there is no Hip-Hop night scheduled, and that Wednesday nights are the only night there is a DJ, the most likely source of hip-hop music.  The live entertainment that this writer has seen there was rock and roll, not hip-hop.   Other than the concerns mentioned by the neighbor, reaction from members of the community with whom I've spoken has been unwavering in its support of and concern for Mr. Lopez and Tailgators. (Webmaster's note: I live just up the street from Tailgator's, and have not been disturbed by noise from it.  However, I'm usually in bed by midnight, and I don't live as close as this neighbor does).  

News Net's original coverage of shooting: Fatal Shooting outside Tailgator's - LA Sheriff's Dept. Homicide Division has responded to a request from the Sierra Madre Police Dept. to assist in the investigation of a shooting that took place early this morning (1:30 am) outside Tailgator's Sports Bar at 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.   According to the Sheriff's Dept. and SMPD, an altercation occurred inside Tailgators involving 3 male adults.  The altercation continued outside, where the shooting occurred after one of the 3 males pulled a gun.  An off-duty LA police officer who was originally in the bar responded to the drawn weapon. The shooting 

victim was taken to a local hospital.  One of the males was taken into custody, another is at large.  The LA police officer was not injured.  We have since been told by Consuelo Lopez, wife of Tailgator owner George Lopez, that the shooting victim has died.  This has been confirmed by Sierra Madre PD Sgt. Ruben Enriquez.  Owner George Lopez, a former LAPD officer, did not shoot the victim, it was 

another customer, who was an off-duty LA Police Officer.  Consuelo did not have all the details, but said that at one point the perpetrators did point their weapon at George, but he was not injured.  Consuelo's reaction?  "I thank God George is okay."  

We spoke with one of Tailgator's neighbors, who stated that his children have in the past suffered from lack of sleep due to the noise from people at Tailgators "...after midnight when they get drunk."  He stated that this is a rowdy club.  "The two bars that were there before, the Sunset and The Wild Rose, I think it was, were never this bad."  (Editor's note, Tailgator's used to be the Raven and the Rose, Wild Rose was a clothing store). He said that he had heard the gunshots and so he had gathered the kids together.  He further stated that "...the owner is a super nice guy...", but that "...some of the promotions he is running bring in the wrong element, he has Hip-Hop night and things like that...."  A check of Tailgators entertainment schedule shows that there is no Hip-Hop night scheduled, and that Wednesday nights are the only night there is a DJ, the most likely source of hip-hop music.  The live entertainment that this writer has seen there was rock and roll, not hip-hop.   (Webmaster's note: I live just up the street from Tailgator's, and have not been disturbed by noise from it.  However, I'm usually in bed by midnight, and I don't live as close as this neighbor does).

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