A Sept. 24 shooting at The Elbo Room, the fourth time this year of report of shots fired in or near the bar on Delaware Avenue in Albany, prompted the State Liquor Authority earlier today (10/4) to suspend the business’ licenses to sell alcohol.

According to an employee who answered the phone this afternoon, the bar, at 170 Delaware Ave., is open and serving food but not alcohol.

In the most recent incident, a male patron was shot in the establishment, officially called The New Elbo Room in state records, but staff did not report the shooting to the SLA or police, according to an announcement from the liquor authority. Authorities were later notified by Albany Medical Center Hospital, which treated the victim, the announcement said. Albany police officers who visited the bar following the notification saw employees cleaning in the bar area, though staff said the shooting had occurred in the lobby. The claim was contradicted by a bartender’s statement to police and by security video reviewed by authorities, the SLA said.

“This licensee has demonstrated total disregard for the law and a lack of concern for the safety of their patrons,” SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley, who voted for the suspension with Commissioner Greeley Ford, said in a statement distributed by the agency. “The SLA has an obligation to ensure this violence does not continue, and today’s emergency suspension will prevent episodes like this from occurring in the future,” Bradley said.

The SLA charged The Elbo Room with six violations, including disorderly premises for assaults, failure to supervise, failure to comply with local regulations, noise violations and for becoming a police focal point and a drain on city resources. According to the agency:

The September 24th shooting was one of several violent incidents reported to the SLA occurring at or nearby the New Elbo Room. APD reports the bar has become a drain on resources, regularly requiring dedicated and supplemental patrol units with APD receiving 146 service calls since January 2015, including 40 calls classified under assaults, fights, disturbances and shots fired. Recent incidents include reported shootings on February 21, 2016, July 10, 2016, and August 7, 2016 in addition to a reported assault on May 7, 2016.

State law permits emergency suspension by the agency if a licensed establishment is found to be a threat to public health, safety or welfare. The Elbo Room owners, who are listed on the SLA database as John F. Hughes and William J. Roemer III, are entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The suspension on alcohol sales remains in effect until it is modified by a judge or the agency.