Court grants petition targeting establishment where Officer Alhassane Barry was fatally shot
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has moved to close an illegal hookah lounge where off-duty Police Officer Alhassane Barry was fatally shot and another person seriously wounded, marking a new development in the investigation into the Aug. 16 gunfire.
District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Thursday that his office filed a petition seeking to close Nipsey’s Hookah Lounge, which the DA’s office described as a speakeasy and illegal establishment.
The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas granted the Commonwealth’s petition for relief, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. in City Hall Courtroom 275.
The action comes as prosecutors continue investigating the shooting that killed Barry and seriously injured another person.
Krasner said Thursday that interviews remain underway and evidence is still being gathered.
The district attorney said his office is not prepared to reach conclusions about the shooting while the investigation remains active.
The Philadelphia Police Department is conducting a separate investigation, according to Krasner.
Krasner also met with Barry’s family to provide information about the investigation, discuss support available through the office and determine whether family members had information relevant to the case.
The District Attorney’s Office said its investigation found that Nipsey’s Hookah Lounge had violated multiple laws.
Several neighbors had also cited the location as a nuisance establishment, according to Krasner.
The DA’s announcement did not identify a suspect or announce criminal charges in connection with Barry’s killing.
Barry was off duty when the shooting occurred Aug. 16 at the establishment.
The investigation now continues on two tracks, with officials examining the fatal shooting while prosecutors pursue court action against the location where the gunfire occurred.
Key Points
- Off-duty Philadelphia Police Officer Alhassane Barry was fatally shot Aug. 16 at Nipsey’s Hookah Lounge, and another person was seriously injured.
- The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office filed a petition to close the establishment, which it described as an illegal speakeasy.
- A court granted the Commonwealth’s petition for relief, with a hearing scheduled for Sept. 2 at Philadelphia City Hall.
