The man charged with shooting inside of a popular Over-the-Rhine bar had been ordered to take anger management classes and was accused of pulling a gun on two others in recent months.
Cincinnati police arrested 29-year-old Taviance Maxberry after officers say he opened fire inside Somerset Bar and hospitalized one person shortly after 5 p.m. May 24.
Maxberry fled the scene and was caught running by police officers a few blocks away, according to an arrest document. Officers found a S&W M&P Shield .380 pistol hidden in the bushes nearby.
The Avondale man was on probation after pleading guilty to pulling a gun on a woman in her car last August, according to Hamilton County court records.
Then, in February, Maxberry was accused of pointing a gun at another person “during a verbal dispute,” court records show. City prosecutors dropped the case in April.
Hamilton County Municipal Judge Brad Greenberg had ordered Maxberry to take anger management classes as a condition of his probation for the August arrest. A recent court entry shows Maxberry did not attend the classes.
Shooter waited outside Somerset for victim, bar owner says
One of Somerset’s owners, James Fisher, told Enquirer media partner Fox 19 that Maxberry waited outside the bar for at least an hour for the victim to leave. He said Maxberry tried to enter Somerset several times Sunday afternoon but was denied by security because he didn’t have an ID.
Then, Fisher says footage shows Maxberry pulled a gun on the bouncer outside and pushed his way inside. The bouncer called 911 and ran out from the bar to find a police officer. As the bouncer was running back toward Somerset, they heard three shots, Fisher said.
Fisher said management is taking a look at security across the venue, including closer coordination with police and additional training. Bouncers are not currently armed and Fisher said he has concerns about whether that would send the right message.
Somerset is owned by Lost Hospitality, which also owns Alice Bar in Over-the-Rhine and Second Story Bar in Covington.
Somerset reopening Wednesday, May 28, after shooting
Cincinnati police arrested Maxberry following the shooting and charged him with felonious assault, among other charges. Police also found he had crack cocaine when he was arrested, according to court documents.
Maxberry remains in custody at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $555,000 bond, according to jail records.
Somerset was closed for the rest of the day Sunday, on Memorial Day and the Tuesday after the shooting. A sign was posted to the outside door of the bar.
“Everyone’s ok, but please hold your loved ones tight,” the message read.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Somerset shooting suspect was ordered to take anger management classes
Reporting by David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
