AUSTIN, Texas — A shooting inside a Downtown Austin bar over the weekend has prompted concerns about safety and recent changes to Sixth Street for some business owners.
Austin police said the early Sunday morning shooting happened at Lit Lounge and left four people injured. So far, no arrests have been made.
Hugo “Mr. Siego” Mendez, owner of the nearby Blindside Tattoos and Blindside Lounge, told KVUE he was working at the door of his business when gunshots rang out. Mendez said people tried to barge into his business, which forced him to close his doors to not let any possible suspects in.
However, Mendez believes the new barriers installed on Sixth Street may have worsened the situation, making it harder for people to escape safely. Mendez said he even saw some people run into traffic while fleeing.
“Instead of people being able to cross the street to get away, – or even in a possible altercation, to try to defuse the situation – people will leave and go to the neighboring bar, which could be across the street,” Mendez said. “Now it just makes things more close quarters … you can’t get away anymore.”
Mendez said this isn’t the first time he’s had issues with the neighboring bar, stating that large crowds often linger out front and cause problems.
“There is chaos in front of that bar every weekend, OK? This is not a new thing,” Mendez said. “It’s not necessarily Sixth Street. It’s certain bars … that don’t carry the standard.”
Mendez believes businesses on the street should unite to improve safety, suggesting increased security measures such as frisking patrons or using metal detectors to prevent firearms from entering establishments.
Meanwhile, Lit Lounge owner Anh Tran, released the following statement on the shooting:
“Over the weekend, an isolated incident occurred inside Lit Lounge involving a firearm. This is the first time something like this has ever happened at our venue, and it has deeply impacted us, our team, and our community. Most importantly, we are incredibly grateful that no lives were lost and that everyone was able to exit the building safely.
Our thoughts are with all of our patrons and their families who were affected. We understand how upsetting this was, and we’re taking it extremely seriously.
Lit Lounge has always prioritized safety above all else. We have professionally trained, licensed security present every night we are open, and we never operate without proper security protocols in place—including thorough pat downs performed by an experienced third-party security team. At all times, we have security at the front door, back door, and multiple security officials inside the building.
Right now, we are actively reviewing every aspect of our security procedures to determine how a firearm was able to make it inside the building. We are working closely with law enforcement and taking immediate steps to tighten and strengthen our safety measures moving forward.
This was an isolated incident, and we are committed to making sure it remains that way. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our patrons, their families, and the wider community. Your trust means everything to us, and we are dedicated to ensuring Lit Lounge remains a safe, enjoyable, and welcoming space for everyone.”