Security guard charged in suburban nightclub shooting death released on electronic monitoring
A security guard charged in a fatal suburban night club shooting has been released on electronic monitoring.
Meanwhile, the family of a Zulma Calderon Pacheco, who was shot and killed by a security guard inside a west suburban Stone Park night club, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the club and the guard.
Kevin Henley Jr., 35, of Chicago has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon in Pacheco's death. He appeared in court Tuesday and was released from custody on electronic monitoring. He was ordered not to have any firearms, nor any contact with the victim's family or the nightclub. He is allowed to work at other jobs.
Police have said Henley should not have been working at Mansion Live nightclub, as he was not licensed to work as a security guard nor licensed to carry a gun.
Police said a fight broke out inside the club just before 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, March 8. Police said Henley pulled a gun and fired once, striking and killing Pacheco. Her family said she was dancing with Joel Chimborazo, her boyfriend of five years, and was not involved in the fight.
"She just dropped behind me," he said. "I just tried getting her out of the club because I didn't want her around nobody with loud music playing."
The family filed separate wrongful death lawsuits against Henley, the security company he worked for and Mansion Live. They are accusing Mansion Live of negligence in Pacheco's death. Their lawsuit claims Mansion Live did not provide appropriate security, failed to staff an appropriate number of security guards, failed to properly train and supervise security guards, allowed security to carry a concealed firearm and fire it inside of the club when it was unsafe, and was overall careless and negligent in how they operated the club.
"He didn't have a FOID card as required by Illinois law and he didn't have the proper training under Illinois law, which requires 40 hours of training," attorney Tim Cavanagh said.
Through tears and in Spanish, Pacheo's mother said no money will bring her daughter back.
"My daughter is dead," she said.
Henley's defense team said he was trying to stop women in the club from being groped when he was attacked He admitted to having a gun, which he said he had because he said a few days prior gang members came to the club armed and threatened him.
In the wake of the shooting, a petition has been filed to shut the club down. As of Monday, more than 5,200 people had signed the petition.
