safety
Authorities investigate officer-involved shooting outside Asheville gay bar
By Emma LaPointe at Washington Blade
· July 17, 2026
· 2 min read
An officer-involved shooting outside of a gay dive bar, Shakey’s, in downtown Asheville, N.C., left one man dead Wednesday. The bar released a statement the following morning regarding the incident, stating that bar staff had asked a patron to leave earlier in the night citing concerning behavior. T
Key takeaway The bar proceeded to call 911, locked the doors to the establishment, and followed dispatcher instructions on how to keep patrons of the bar safe while officers arrived.
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: Washington Blade ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? An officer-involved shooting outside of a gay dive bar, Shakey’s, in downtown Asheville, N.C., left one man dead Wednesday. The bar released a statement the following morning regarding the incident, stating that bar staff had asked a patron to leave earlier in the night citing concerning behavior. T
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by Washington Blade and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Emma LaPointe at Washington Blade. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .