A family is demanding the closure of a Lacura Bar and Bistro, popular club in Atlanta , following a tragic incident on New Year’s Day, where a Clark Atlanta University graduate was killed in a triple shooting. The victim, Kirey Thompson, was a 28-year-old former football player who died after being taken to the hospital by his family. The shooting occurred outside Lacura Bar & Bistro at 1919 Metropolitan Pkwy SW around 3:15 a.m., stemming from an argument that escalated into gunfire. Two other men, aged 41 and 48, were also injured.
Thompson’s cousin, Brianna Cheeks, expressed the family’s devastation, noting that they had previously lost Thompson’s older brother, Cardarius, to gun violence. Thompson, who graduated from Clark Atlanta in 2019, was remembered as a positive individual with no connections to gang activity or street violence. His family emphasized his character, stating that he was simply celebrating the New Year with family and friends.
Following the incident, the bar announced its indefinite closure on Instagram. This venue has a history of violence, with police responding to at least 26 incidents over the past year, including aggravated assault and narcotics violations. Past incidents include a group firing at the building in 2024 and a fatal shooting involving a 15-year-old in 2021.
Thompson’s family is calling for the bar to be permanently closed, citing inadequate security and the trauma families endure due to such violence. As the city investigates, police are actively seeking the shooter, and they urge anyone with information to contact Atlanta Police. The family hopes that justice will eventually bring some peace after this heartbreaking start to the new year.
