Memphis' Main Event Entertainment is facing a suspension of its liquor license after two shootings occurred at the venue within a span of six months. The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) imposed an Order of Summary Suspension on the establishment, effectively putting a halt to any alcohol sales. This action took place in light of a fatal incident on July 22, 2024, followed by another shooting that injured two on January 25. WREG reported that the TABC considers Main Event an "immediate threat to public health, safety, and welfare."
Moving swiftly to counteract this threat, TABC has asserted its intention to seek a full revocation of Main Event's liquor license through a formal administrative hearing process, although Main Event management has the option to request an informal hearing within a seven-day window. According to a statement obtained by ABC24, Russell Thomas, Executive Director of the TABC, expressed that "Licensed establishments have a duty to operate responsibly and in accordance with the law. When repeated incidents of violence occur, decisive action must be taken to safeguard the community."
Further details provided by FOX13 Memphis highlight the gravity of the incidents leading to the suspension. A security guard associated with Main Event, Richard Lewis, was arrested and indicted for the murder of James Redmon, another security guard, on charges carried out in July. The January incident involved a stolen gun confiscated by an officer before the shooting and was preceded by an argument near the bowling alleys.
While the exact circumstances surrounding the shootings are still being pieced together, the response from the regulatory body emphasizes a strict adherence to public safety measures. Concerns arose from repeated outbreaks of lethal violence, prompting the TABC to eliminate any immediate risks posed by Main Event. "This decision was made to protect public safety," Russell Thomas reiterated in a news release highlighted by FOX13 Memphis. Main Event management is yet to respond publicly to the suspension, as reported by ABC24, in ongoing developments to this story.
