Northwest Side bar owner tightens security after nighttime shooting

SAN ANTONIO –The owner of a San Antonio bar credits his security team with responding quickly to an early morning shooting Monday.

The shooting took place in Hills and Dales, in the northwest of the city, near Loop 1604 and Babcock.

Justin Vitek, the owner of Hills & Dales Ice House, said he spends thousands of dollars on security and staffing every year.

“Safety is our number one concern. We don’t want people to be afraid to come here,” he said.

Vitek was standing a few feet away when a 20-year-old man shot a 25-year-old man as a fight broke out. He said the unidentified shooter had no ID on him.

Guns aren’t allowed in his bar, so Vitek tries to figure out how the suspect got into the property.

“We think maybe he crossed the fence somewhere,” Vitek said.

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Security personnel ran after the suspect and arrested him before police arrived. Police have not yet identified the man.

Vitek says he was shocked and saddened that the shooting happened at his business.

“It could have happened anywhere, and unfortunately it happened here,” he said.

District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez is also concerned. He spoke with Vitek to see what can be done to protect residents near the bar. Pelaez expressed concern about the overall increase in gun violence in the city.

“SAPD will tell you that we are seeing more and more incidents like this, in all businesses and in neighborhoods where it didn’t happen before,” Pelaez said. “[The suspect] came here with a plan not to follow the rules. He didn’t think the rules applied to him, and he found himself causing or meddling in trouble.

As the city council considers a $3.1 billion budget, Pelaez said he would like the community to get involved to have a say in how they would like to see their tax dollars used.

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“Be careful what we do at City Hall,” Pelaez said.

Vitek says he’s re-evaluating how to improve customer safety at his bar.

KSAT will notify you of any new information on the shoot as it becomes available.

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