EAST POINT, Ga. — Violence, shootings, death and more have spilled from an after-hours restaurant and bar into a residential East Point neighborhood, according to police -- endangering families who live in the neighborhood.
But Monday night, neighbors in Center Park pleaded with the city council to intervene, calling it a matter of life and death. They said residents are living in terror.
“This should never have happened,” one resident told council members.
She was describing the fatal shootings outside an after-hours restaurant/bar in the Center Park neighborhood of East Point called Krush. There have been two homicides outside the business since 2022, when Krush opened.
“Having a homicide right away from someone’s door is terrifying,” a resident said. “We don’t deserve to live in terror.”
And though the company denies responsibility, East Point Police Chief Shawn Buchanan blames Krush. The chief said there's enough evidence to pursue a nuisance case against the business.
“Which means I can take their liquor license immediately,” Buchanan said. “I am very serious about considering shutting them down.”
Buchanan said Krush has agreed to some immediate changes, for now, including closing, at least temporarily, at 11 p.m. every night instead of at 4 a.m.
Security camera footage from a resident in the area shows moments during the latest homicide. On Oct. 28, Krush customers were seen just after 3:30 a.m. running through the neighborhood for their lives.
A man was shot to death in front of the home of a family with small children a few yards from the business.
“Stray bullets don’t discriminate,” another said. “And we could have easily lost a neighbor the other night.”
Residents are also in disbelief that East Point currently allows businesses to stay open selling alcohol until 5 a.m., while other cities in metro Atlanta have a closing time of 2 a.m.
Residents face a barrage of issues: Shootings, Krush customers urinating in yards and streets, armed individuals, customers hitting cars and driving off and obstructing streets, risking emergency access.
So residents are urging the city council to require Krush and businesses near residential areas to stop selling alcohol by midnight, permanently and close by 2 a.m. otherwise.
“We have to make this right for all of us,” a homeowner told council members.
Joseph Knox of Krush declined to speak on camera but told 11Alive no business, including his, can control what their customers do outside and down the street.
Knox said Krush would comply with whatever the city wanted him to do.
East Point City Council members are discussing moving the closing time back to 2 a.m. and may vote as early as next week.