AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo police notified the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) that upon investigation of the bar owner Glenda Marie Galan, owner of the Galan Club, 900 E Amarillo Blvd., the bar was being illegally operated by the manager of the club. A shooting occurred overnight on the night of June 1st after normal business hours of the bar.
Authorities reported that a male bartender fired two shots, one striking a 25-year old male patron. Authorities said the man was inside the club with others after closing time.
Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee said SWAT officers entered Galan's club in the 900 block of east Amarillo Boulevard just before noon after receiving reports that a man was hiding inside. Officers thought the suspected gunman was still in the bar because of a black 1988 Ford Expedition in the parking lot.
Amarillo SWAT officers staked out the building for three hours before sending in a robot and a drug dog prior to entering the bar, where the dog found an unidentified man hiding beneath a DJ booth inside. SWAT officers found another man hiding in the building's ceiling, Barbee said. Authorities said they have detained the two men for questioning.
"Our main concern after the shooting was to stop the illegal operation of the bar," said Captain Mark Menn, TABC District Supervisor for the West Texas District. "When a person receives a TABC permit, they are required by law to maintain some type of direct supervision of that business. When that responsibility is illegally handed over to someone else, incidents such as this can be the result."
TABC reportedly stripped the wine and beer retailer's license, and the bar is now closed, according to Sgt. Randy Chatham of the TABC. Glenda Marie Galan has held the license since March 2, 2011, and the club has not had any violations since then, Chatham said.
Amarillo police and the commission continue to investigate the incident. No criminal charges will be filed against Ms. Galan at this time. No one has been charged with a crime.
