Were red flags ignored at Chicago business where mass shooting happened?
CHICAGO (CBS) -- New documents obtained by CBS 2 show even more previous red flags for the business at the center of a recent mass shooting on the city's West Side, raising concerns of whether or not the city did enough to hold the business accountable in the past.
A Halloween party took place at Studio 1258, at 1258 S. Pulaski Rd., in the North Lawndale Neighborhood early on Sunday, Oct. 29. It turned into chaos. Prosecutors said William Groves, 48, got angry after being kicked out of the Party while visibly drunk, and then returned with a gun and started shooting just after 1 a.m. – as the attendees ran for their lives. Fifteen people were shot and hurt.
"I was just praying I hope this guy doesn't turn the gun around towards this bar," said one man who was at the party.
The studio is only licensed to do business as an art gallery, city records show. Back in May, months before the shooting happened, the city issued cease-and-desist orders for Studio 1258 for operating without a liquor license or public place of amusement license. And in 2021, city inspectors doubted the building -- which housed no art -- was actually being used for that purpose. Inspectors documented the property as "dangerous and hazardous," CBS 2 previously reported.
But new records shed even more light on problems with the business. Many of these issues aren't new to neighbors, who contacted the city several times before the shooting happened. While the city's department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) said they cited the businesses in May, the city received 311 complaints from concerned residents at least a month earlier.
On April 10, someone complained about the business having after-hours events. Another complaint on that same day took issue with liquor consumption without a license.
"Patrons are out loitering, littering, disturbing the residents in the area," the second complaint said. "Also, there was an incident that involved a car window being shot out due to the patrons' violence."
A third complaint on April 13 reported outside fights and public drinking going into the early morning hours on April 13.
Mike Trout, executive director of the Young Men's Education Network, has led that organization across the street from Studio 1258 for more than two decades. He said he's been concerned about the business' impact on the neighborhood.
"It's gone through a couple iterations - community bar, community hangout community club - now apparently art gallery," Trout said. "But it's not community asset."
"This block represents a safe space and a safe space for so many kids from our community," he added. "It just takes that one area that you are not using for the right purposes that affect the rest of the block."
Since 2021, the city went to the property to investigate the business six different times, including once as recently as September, records show. In the last two years, the business was found liable for license insignia/display, selling alcohol, deceptive sales practices, and others. For these violations, the business was required to pay $850 in fines, including $300 as recently as September after being found liable for selling alcohol without the proper license again.
These fines did not deter the business from hosting even more parties, including the one where the mass shooting happened last weekend.
In the wake of the shooting, an official from the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said during a news conference the department does not hesitate to issue "various enforcement actions" for violations.
CBS 2 asked BACP why it didn't issue a cease-and-desist to the business beforehand, despite a history of violations. The agency did not answer that question and provided the following vague statement:
"The City of Chicago is committed to the highest level of public safety at businesses, and for residents, throughout the City.
"The Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) ensures businesses comply with Chicago's Municipal Code through enforcement action taken against unscrupulous and fraudulent businesses and business practices. Business Compliance Enforcement (BCE) Investigators respond to residents' complaints and conduct proactive investigations where necessary. Enforcement actions, such as citations, are issued if a complaint is warranted and there is a nexus to the business."