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Blind Tiger files court motion to get alcohol permit back, says 'death threats' coming in

The ALE took away the Greensboro bar's alcohol permit after agents said a bouncer shot and killed a 19-year-old man outside the venue.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The owner of Blind Tiger in Greensboro wants his alcohol permit back. 

He and his attorney filed a motion in court on Wednesday. 

The court document includes affidavits from the venue's co-owner and a security guard, describing what happened during July's deadly shooting in the parking lot.

The two men's views differ from the story police shared.

Co-owner Bradford McCauley said in the documents that he has been with the Blind Tiger since 2016 and has reviewed relevant surveillance footage taken from a selection of the Blind Tiger's 36 cameras. 

McCauley said multiple times that the security guards were supposed to be unarmed. 

He said the guard charged with second-degree murder appears with a gun on surveillance video.

A different guard said they were given "clear instruction that no firearms are allowed at any time, anywhere on the premises...seeing Jason Leonard in possession of (a gun) was shocking to me."

The co-owner also said, "a member of the group appears to make inadvertent contact with the arm...holding the firearm, resulting in the gunshot strike." 

McCauley admits the venue's manager helped hide a gun in a desk.

He said when he found out, he immediately told police - and fired that manager shortly after.

McCauley said he and his workers have "received death threats and verbal abuse." He continues by saying he has, "been forced to materially alter mine and my family's daily lives in an attempt to avoid direct encounters with people in my own community." 

McCauley said in one instance, "a key bar manager received so many online threats that she was forced to quit." 

He said without an alcohol permit, "the business is not economically viable or feasible" - and they'll be unable to operate.

The Alcohol Law Enforcement and ABC have a different story. They said the venue and security guards Blind Tiger hired are at fault. 

Last month, the ALE said a bouncer shot and killed 19-year-old Pedro Alegria in the parking lot.

That bouncer faces a second-degree murder charge.

The venue's owner and manager are charged with hiring unlicensed armed security.

Investigating officers said Blind Tiger employees tried to cover up evidence.

That, along with a couple of other recent shootings, led the ABC to suspend the bar's license on August 5th immediately. 

The venue's owner said charges and punishment are unwarranted and they will be forced to close down permanently if the alcohol permit isn't reinstated. 

WFMY reached out to the city of Greensboro for an update on the Safety Review Team’s investigation into the Blind Tiger and was told there are no updates at this time. 

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