Police are looking for a man who fired a shot into a Derby bar Wednesday night. There were between 10 to 15 people people inside the establishment, but no one was hit.
According to Lt. Justin Stanko, officers were sent to RJ’s Cafe on Elizabeth Street about 11:30 p.m. after receiving a report of shots fired.
There had been an argument inside the bar between several patrons, Stanko said. A bar employee asked the problem patrons to leave and warned that the police would be called.
The patrons left the bar and made their way up to the sidewalk on Elizabeth Street.
Someone then fired a gun toward a female RJ’s employee who was standing outside the bar’s entrance, police said.
The bullet missed the woman, but went through a window and into the bar before hitting a wall.
Police have suspect in the incident. No arrest had been made as of 11 a.m. Thursday.
“Witnesses both inside and outside the bar are familiar with the suspect,” Stanko said. “Police have a suspect based on witnesses, as well as video surveillance from the bar.”
The bar’s address is 148 Elizabeth St. It is at the corner of Elizabeth and Fifth streets.
Wednesday’s incident was the second shooting on the property in two years.
In May 2012 Javon Zimmerman was gunned down in the bar’s rear parking lot. Two months ago a jury found the shooter, Cordaryl Silva, guilty of murder. He faces a possible prison term of 25 years to life. Silva is scheduled to be sentenced June 24.
In the wake of the 2012 killing, Derby Police Chief Gerald Narowski sent a letter to the bar owner and the property owner raising concerns about the number of calls police had received involving incidents at or around the business.
The letter was sent under a “chronic nuisance” ordinance created by the Board of Aldermen.
As a result of the chief’s letter, police met with the owners, who beefed up security at the business. Additional staff was brought in to handle crowds, lighting was installed in the parking lot and security cameras were also put in.
In addition to trying to arrest the shooter, Derby police are currently reviewing Wednesday night’s incident in light of the city’s nuisance law.
A for sale sign was outside RJ’s for at least a year, but it’s unclear whether the property is still on the market.
Public records list Roney Antico as the principal partner in the limited liability company that owns the bar.
Cheryl Antico posted a comment below this story at about 1 p.m. Thursday indicating the group involved in Wednesday’s dispute were banned from the establishment after the 2012 murder, and that the bartender in this case got the group out then locked the door.
Click here to read her full comment.
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Elizabeth and Alphonse Ippolito own the property through their 148 Elizabeth Street, LLC.
In January 2013 RJ’s was fined $1,000 and had its liquor license suspended for four days because of “conduct of permit premises,” according to the state Liquor Control Commission.
