Da shuts down new kensington elks lodge after string of violent incidents and fights

NEW KENSINGTON, PA – The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office has filed an emergency injunction to temporarily shut down the Elks Lodge 294 on 3rd Avenue following a series of violent incidents and regulatory violations linked to the club.

District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announced the move Friday, citing cooperation between her office, the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, and the New Kensington Police Department. Officials said the lodge has been the site of 32 police-related incidents since 2022, including assaults, shootings, and disturbances both inside and outside the building.

The most recent event occurred on December 6, when police responded to a homicide and assault connected to the property. Investigators say the club has repeatedly failed to comply with state liquor laws and conditions set by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The lodge is currently operating under a conditional license agreement while appealing the LCB’s earlier decision to deny its license renewal.

“Enough is enough,” DA Ziccarelli said in a statement. “The people of New Kensington do not deserve the persistent disturbances and violence that occur at this establishment. We are going to proceed in our efforts to curtail the unacceptable behavior that continues to plague this neighborhood.”

The injunction, filed in coordination with law enforcement and liquor control officials, will remain in effect while legal proceedings determine the lodge’s future operations.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.