The City of Buffalo has forced a Bailey Avenue bowling alley to close its doors following a fatal shooting early Saturday morning.
The victim, David Lopez, 28, of Lackawanna, was shot multiple times in the parking lot of the Bowl-Inn alley around 3:40 a.m. He later died after being taken to ECMC.
Police say the shooting came as the result of an earlier dispute inside the establishment. An emergency closure order was issued Sunday.
Mayor Byron Brown said the emergency shut-down was neccessary to protect the safety of patrons and neighbors.
"We're not going to tolerate situations where establishments can't control the actions of their patrons in and around their establishment. There have been a number of instances of violence around this bowling alley and members of the community were deeply concerned about that," Brown said Monday.
The mayor says the alley's owner will be given a hearing and an opportunity to reopen the business.
"We are open to talking to the establishment, but there will certainly have to be some real changes moving forward for this establishment to be able to reopen," Brown said.
This weekend's shooting isn't the first violent incident to have taken place on the grounds of the Bowl-Inn. A man was shot and seriously injured in the same parking lot earlier this year.
Saturday's shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call or text the city's confidential tipline at 847-2255.
