Urban Jacksonville

I've heard from a couple people that the victim was actually the one trying to rob the place….

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories…

Sources tell Action News a bartender shot the man after he walked into the bar with some kind of gun. Police would not confirm this information.

Update on Shantytown: I've heard another unofficial report that whoever was bartending last night did shoot someone who walked into the bar with a weapon. More details as they are released.

This is such an unfortunate event, especially for the owners/employees. I live in Springfield and I frequent this bar. I will continue to do so and I hope that this doesn't deter anyone from continuing to go or from checking it out. For being one of the most laid back bars in town, they sure do have to deal with a lot of BS

I hope there is no attempt at retribution from those associated with the victim…

Firsthand account from someone who claims to know what exactly happened at Shantytown last night. I say “claims” because I have no way of verifying it. From the forum post:

Last night was simply a matter of self-defense. Somebody came in waving around some sort of weapon, and Tex stopped him before he could kill anybody. Tex should be lauded for his quick thinking; he saved lives last night.

As for the victim, no one has seen him before, but it's pretty clear that he was a crackhead.
The news is trying to spin this into a shooting in a bar between patrons, and that is simply not the case.

If you want more information please contact one of us. Don't trust the news; they can't get anything right.

We will be open for business tonight, and I encourage you all to come by and show you support.

-John H
813.362.5940

This won't stop me or the regulars from supporting our favorite boozehole. If anything, I feel safer knowing my bartender has my back when the Springfield crazies come out of the woodworks. The bottom line is it is NOT okay to roll up on a place like Shantytown acting ill. The patrons are peaceful folks and I've never seen so much as a fight break out as long as I've been hanging out there. Winos and crackheads need to stay the fuck out. I don't think there will be any retaliation and hopefully the message will be clear that you can't expect to pull some stupid shit like that and walk away.

Don't Mess With Texas.

PS – Don't listen to the news. I was near enough to get second-hand accounts but only 4 people know what really happened and one of them is dead.

Holy shit….I was there last night and all was quiet before I left around 11. There wasn't but a handful of folks hanging out. Good for Tex, just doing his job to protect everyone.

Shantytown update with video from Jacksonville.com:

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/20…

Police have yet to release a motive in the 12:30 a.m. shooting at the Shantytown Pub at 22 W. Sixth Street just off Main Street. The unidentified victim suffered multiple gunshots and was pronounced dead at Shands Jacksonville hospital, police said. A handful of patrons at the bar were not injured.

The Times-Union has been unable to reach officials of the bar. A group of men who work at a nearby business and know the owners and bartender said they were told the bartender shot an irate man who was waving a gun and threatening customers inside the business.

<object id=”flashObj” width=”486″ height=”412″ classid=”clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000″ codebase=”http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0″><param name=”movie” value=”http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10363234001?isVid=1&publisherID=1155951816″ /><param name=”bgcolor” value=”#FFFFFF” /><param name=”flashVars” value=”videoId=35247286001&playerID=10363234001&domain=embed&” /><param name=”base” value=”http://admin.brightcove.com” /><param name=”seamlesstabbing” value=”false” /><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true” /><param name=”swLiveConnect” value=”true” /><param name=”allowScriptAccess” value=”always” /><embed src=”http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10363234001?isVid=1&publisherID=1155951816″ bgcolor=”#FFFFFF” flashVars=”videoId=35247286001&playerID=10363234001&domain=embed&” base=”http://admin.brightcove.com” name=”flashObj” width=”486″ height=”412″ seamlesstabbing=”false” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowFullScreen=”true” swLiveConnect=”true” allowScriptAccess=”always” pluginspage=”http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash”></embed></object>

Dang =/ but it was all in the matter of self defense. Though its upseting there was reasoning behind it. Just hope it all turns out for the best.

Some of the responses I've seen around Facebook and elsewhere, as well as what I've heard by word of mouth… and I'm referring to reactions to the event, not the event itself… I'm absolutely appalled! Is there really a party going on celebrating this traumatic event? Are you bike jerks feeling a little tougher now that you know a guy that killed a man?

No disrespect to Tex, or the owners of Shantytown. What they are dealing with is heavier than what most of us will ever deal with, but the fact of the matter is, defending patrons IS NOT his job. What he did was brave, and his actions are well justified, but some of your gross reactions i have read or heard are not.

Disgusting.

Gross reactions or not, it's those people that keep Shantytown alive. Get over it.

I'm assuming when you use the term “bike jerks” you're referring to the dudes next door at Zombie, or anyone that is associated with them. Although I don't agree with everything they stand for, they respect Ian, support him, and bring plenty of business to his establishment via shows, community events, and friends.

Secondly, defending patrons may not be in his job description, but I think the bartender knows better than anyone (because of past events) what is expected of him and the situations he might encounter working at a bar in a not-so-safe part of town. Not only is it his job to pour you a beer, it's his job to make sure that the bar is running efficiently and everyone there is safe. If that requires him to shoot a crazy crackhead waving a gun in the air to protect himself, the customers, and the money in the drawer, then so be it. It's not Disneyworld. As a customer, I'm sure as hell not going to return to a place where I don't feel safe, but as long as people like Tex are running the show, that isn't an issue for me. I love Shantytown and won't stop going till the place burns down.

Some of the responses I've seen around Facebook and elsewhere, as well as what I've heard by word of mouth… and I'm referring to reactions to the event, not the event itself… I'm absolutely appalled! Is there really a party going on celebrating this traumatic event? Are you bike jerks feeling a little tougher now that you know a guy that killed a man?

No disrespect to Tex, or the owners of Shantytown. What they are dealing with is heavier than what most of us will ever deal with, but the fact of the matter is, defending patrons IS NOT his job. What he did was brave, and his actions are well justified, but some of your gross reactions i have read or heard are not.

Disgusting.

Gross reactions or not, it's those people that keep Shantytown alive. Get over it.

I'm assuming when you use the term “bike jerks” you're referring to the dudes next door at Zombie, or anyone that is associated with them. Although I don't agree with everything they stand for, they respect Ian, support him, and bring plenty of business to his establishment via shows, community events, and friends.

Secondly, defending patrons may not be in his job description, but I think the bartender knows better than anyone (because of past events) what is expected of him and the situations he might encounter working at a bar in a not-so-safe part of town. Not only is it his job to pour you a beer, it's his job to make sure that the bar is running efficiently and everyone there is safe. If that requires him to shoot a crazy crackhead waving a gun in the air to protect himself, the customers, and the money in the drawer, then so be it. It's not Disneyworld. As a customer, I'm sure as hell not going to return to a place where I don't feel safe, but as long as people like Tex are running the show, that isn't an issue for me. I love Shantytown and won't stop going till the place burns down.