Quick action by bar staff and patrons prevented injuries after a 26-year-old man returned to an Asheville nightclub with a firearm and opened fire in the parking lot early Wednesday morning, forcing police to fatally shoot the armed suspect.

Armed Suspect Returns After Removal

Officers with the Asheville Police Department responded around 1:57 a.m. on July 16 to reports of an active shooter outside Shakey’s, a downtown Asheville establishment. When officers arrived, they encountered Arturo Castillo Palomar actively firing a handgun in the parking lot. Police ordered the suspect to drop his weapon before opening fire, killing him at the scene. No patrons, employees, or officers were injured in the incident.

According to a statement posted to the bar’s social media, staff had asked Palomar to leave earlier in the evening because of concerning behavior. The man later returned armed and began shooting outside the business, prompting employees to immediately move customers to safety inside the building.

Chaos Inside As Bullets Strike Building

Witness Taylor Pace described the terrifying moments as gunfire erupted. “He literally pulls the gun up and starts shooting at the building. You hear them hitting the bricks, and at that point, I’m like, ‘Everyone get down.’ Everyone’s screaming. Panic, chaos, and fight or flight set in,” Pace told local media. Staff members locked the doors, called 911, and followed dispatcher instructions to get everyone on the floor and away from windows while waiting for law enforcement to arrive.

The bar credited the swift actions of staff and patrons for ensuring everyone inside made it home safely. “As soon as our staff and patrons recognized what was happening, everyone acted quickly,” the establishment said in their statement. “We got everyone inside, locked the doors, called 911, and followed the dispatcher’s instructions.”

Investigation Continues Into Motive

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting, standard procedure in the state. One Asheville police officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation outcome. Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp said authorities have found no evidence the shooting was motivated by bias. “There is no evidence at this time that suggests the shooter had any type of bias or hate motive,” Stepp stated. Investigators have not determined whether the suspect’s earlier removal from the bar connected to his decision to return armed.