Body-camera video released by Tacoma police shows officers firing at gunman in bar
Body-camera video released by Tacoma Police Department on Friday shows two officers firing gunshots at a man initially suspected of shooting a gun inside a downtown bar last month after a fight with other patrons and employees.
The 27-year-old man, Johnathan Lane, was not struck by the officers’ gunfire and retreated into a bathroom after discarding his gun, according to court documents. The officers who fired at Lane were identified by police as Scott Hendershot, 30, who has been with the department for four years and Abdirizak Ahmed, 31, who has been with the department for two years.
Lane was booked into Pierce County Jail the day after the Sept. 28 fight and shooting. He was charged with three counts of second-degree assault. Dispatchers received reports that a man fired a gun inside The Office Bar & Grill, but police said Friday that while the man threatened customers and employees while armed with a handgun, he did not fire the weapon.
Lane pleaded not guilty and was released from jail on Oct. 3 after posting a $25,000 bail bond, according to court records. A judge prohibited him from possessing alcohol or guns while awaiting trial.
A relative Lane was with, who reportedly fought with bar patrons, has not been charged. Neither man has a prior felony record in Pierce County.
The Tacoma Police Department is handling the investigation into the shooting. According to a news release, the Pierce County Force Investigation Team responded to the scene and evaluated the incident. That team typically investigates police uses of deadly force in the county, but police said since no one was injured, it was turned over to Tacoma police.
Before police were called to the bar, Lane and his relative were cut off by the bartender and asked to leave because they had become disruptive, according to court documents. The men reportedly refused to leave and became more aggressive toward other people.
Lane was celebrating the 21st birthday of his relative, according to court documents. They reportedly arrived at the bar already intoxicated and purchased additional shots of alcohol.
Two customers tried to separate the man and a male employee who tried to call 911, then a fight broke out where Lane’s relative was struck and knocked unconscious, according to court documents.
That’s when police say Lane went to his car and grabbed a handgun. Witnesses said his relative remained on the ground.
At about 10:58 p.m., Lane reportedly went back into the bar with the gun and began threatening customers and employees. Video shows him holding a gun while other people flee the bar.
Some of the customers locked themselves in a beer locker at the back of the business, according to court documents. Lane allegedly pointed the gun at a security guard who attempted to go into the bar.
Officers Ahmed and Hendershot arrived a few minutes after Lane allegedly brandished the gun. Surveillance video shows Lane pointing the gun at police from behind a wall as the officers enter. Police told the man to drop the gun, and both fired gunshots at about 11:03 p.m.
Police said Lane threw the gun under a table and retreated with his relative through the bar’s kitchen to a bathroom. Officers eventually located and arrested them.
After the incident, the men were transported to the hospital to be treated for intoxication, according to court documents.
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 2:05 PM.
