Kentucky Bar, Security Guard, Police Sued Over Man’s Death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against a Kentucky bar, where a man died after an altercation with a security guard.

Christopher McKinney’s widower, Nick Clark, filed the suit against Nowhere Bar, in Louisville, claiming the bar served McKinney too much alcohol before the fight with former security guard Justin Wright, news outlets reported. The lawsuit also names Wright and Louisville Metro Police as defendants.

Wright was escorting McKinney out of the bar for “unruly behavior” when the two got into a fight, which left McKinney unconscious.

McKinney, 35, was hospitalized and later died of blunt force injuries. Wright wasn’t charged in the incident.

According to the lawsuit, Wright had “anger issues” and previously assaulted patrons.

The lawsuit said witnesses saw Wright hit McKinney “in the head with a closed-fist” and continue to hit McKinney after he fell to the ground.

The complaint said off-duty Metro officers, who were also working security, were looking out for Wright and didn’t allow patrons to help McKinney. It also said police didn’t properly investigate Wright and the incident.

The lawsuit also claims that Nowhere Bar cultivated an “unsafe culture” by having off-duty police and a “violent” security guard protecting patrons. The bar is known as an “LGTBQ bar.”

Wright didn’t immediately respond to comment requests.

A police spokesperson said the department doesn’t comment on pending litigation.