Pink Slip bar blamed in man's shooting death

A woman has filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of her deceased son against a Brooklyn bar, claiming her son was killed because of the bar's negligent conduct.

Toni Conners alleges her son, DeJuan C. Johnson, was at the Pink Slip on April 16, 2005, when he was shot in the abdomen, according to a complaint filed Sept. 22 in St. Clair Circuit Court.

At the time of Johnson's shooting, all patrons were supposed to have entered the bar through a metal detector and some were even searched with a hand-held metal detector, according to the complaint.

At some point throughout the night, Johnson and another person, referred to only as "A.D." in the complaint, got into a verbal argument, the suit states.

During the argument, Conners claims A.D. pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired a shot into Johnson's abdomen.

Johnson died on April 16 from the gunshot, according to the complaint.

Pink Slip was negligent because it should have known its patrons had attempted to conceal weapons to bring into its bar, especially since it had been the scene of numerous violent crimes in the past, the suit states.

Conners claims the bar should have implemented additional security procedures, provided adequate security and should have warned patrons of the likelihood of a violent event.

An adequately trained security force should have been operating the metal detectors, but the bar failed to provide an adequately trained staff, and the security at the bar on the night of the shooting should have provided adequate supervision and stopped the incident before Johnson was killed, according to the complaint.

Pink Slip was also negligent because its security allowed and failed to detect A.D.'s deadly weapon, the suit states.

Conners claims the bar failed to alert its employees to the dangers of deadly weapons, failed to inform Johnson of the danger he faced and failed to anticipate a criminal attack of this type.

Conners claims she has suffered damages and a great loss of companionship, society, love and affection.

She is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus pre-judgment interest and costs.

Joseph M. Taylor of Taylor & Taylor will be representing her.