City temporarily suspends first liquor license under new city ordinance

After two people were killed at a Louisville nightclub early Saturday in the Southland Park neighborhood, the city has temporarily suspended the businesses' liquor licenses, marking the first use of an amended city ordinance since its passage in March.

Third Division police officers responded to a call about a shooting after 5 a.m. at The Hot Spot in the 200 Block of Evangeline Avenue and found several people had been shot, Louisville Metro Police spokesperson John Bradley said. One man, later identified as 26-year-old Aaron Anderson of Louisville, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man later died at the University of Louisville Hospital and two others were injured.

"My heart and prayers go out to the victims of these shootings and the families and we're praying for the recovery for those who are still alive following these violent acts that took place, these targeted shootings that took place across our city," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a statement. "We will continue using every tool at LMPD's disposal to find those individuals who were responsible for these heinous gun crimes."

As a result of the shooting, a notice of a liquor license suspension was posted to the business's front doors within hours of the incident, said Kevin Trager, communications director for the mayor's office.

The liquor license suspension follows a city ordinance passed in March of this year by Metro Council that allows Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue emergency liquor license suspensions when public safety is at risk.

According to a news release from ABC, the ordinance amendment was announced by Mayor Craig Greenberg on March 4 after a series of gun-related incidents, including a homicide at Café 360 off Bardstown Road the day prior, and passed later that month.

Currently, the Metro ABC can issue suspensions in violent or emergency situations with the passed ordinance amendment. Emergency license suspensions previously had to get approval from the commonwealth, which would often take "several days," as previously reported by The Courier Journal.

Mayor Greenberg said the city is diligently working to make Louisville safer.

"From Metro ABC to Metro Council, LMPD and more, we are working together to find real solutions. We need all of Louisville to help us by being a part of the solution. By holding those who commit these violent acts accountable, we can make our community safer and protect more lives," he said.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Hot Spot has liquor license suspended under new ordinance